****Please e-mail me at hhocutt@teachbeyond.org if you realize that you haven't gotten the e-mails!!!
This was my last e-mail that I sent out March 16th!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, April 3, 2017
last e-mail
I apologize in advance! I am still learning how to do the e-mail newsletter (it's taking me a lot longer than I expected...yikes). Sometimes it might be sent to your junk inbox so check that if for some reason you aren't getting it. I have had a few e-mails "bounce" and I am currently trying to figure out how to resolve that. I am going to copy and paste the next several e-mails to my blog, in case someone still isn't receiving the e-mails.
****Please e-mail me at hhocutt@teachbeyond.org if you realize that you haven't gotten the e-mails!!!
This was my last e-mail that I sent out March 16th!!
http://eepurl.com/cGFV4P
****Please e-mail me at hhocutt@teachbeyond.org if you realize that you haven't gotten the e-mails!!!
This was my last e-mail that I sent out March 16th!!
Monday, March 27, 2017
A *vulnerable* flashback
I am a pretty transparent person. I have lots of emotions. I wear them on my sleeve - well, more like my face, but you get the picture. This post is going to be a very open look into my heart.
One year ago, almost to the day, God began stirring in my heart the idea of moving overseas to teach. Wow. He has brought me so far.
During this time in March 2016, our Sunday School class was doing a girls' bible study with the "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed" study (side note: if you've never done it, DO IT! I will also be referring to that as ATR from here on out). I decided to glance back through my journal at the entries around this time last year. I'm just going to share a few with you, just to show you how the Lord works!
Y'all, God knew the plan from the start. Nothing...absolutely nothing...surprises Him! And how thankful we should be about that!! Praise the Lord that the Faithful Jehovah Elohim (Almighty Creator God) is all-knowing, all-seeing, and ever present!
He does, in fact, have everything under control.
Yet, we are continually in shock when something happens and we can see how it was connected to something a year ago (or even 10 years ago) that happened in our lives.
Yes, God knows.
And He does have a plan and a purpose for every little thing that is going on in your life.
[Final side note: If you don't journal, I would highly encourage you to start. It is just a great way to see the Lord's faithfulness woven in to all parts of your life. My journal entries are not long and eloquent...in fact, sometimes that are short and even silly to look back on. But it's worth it to be able to read back over how the Lord has been faithful.]
One year ago, almost to the day, God began stirring in my heart the idea of moving overseas to teach. Wow. He has brought me so far.
During this time in March 2016, our Sunday School class was doing a girls' bible study with the "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed" study (side note: if you've never done it, DO IT! I will also be referring to that as ATR from here on out). I decided to glance back through my journal at the entries around this time last year. I'm just going to share a few with you, just to show you how the Lord works!
March 28
"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalms 27:13-15
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him." Psalms 28:7
March 29
After I wrote those verses, God broke me - again. He gave me more then I could handle.
March 30
[my thoughts from ATR that week] It was like Priscilla Shirer was talking directly to me!He calls. He establishes. He equips. He has specific plans.
"Remember Whose you are and who you are" - it is only because of Him that you've done anything in your life at all!
Who are you in Christ? We are established by Him! When God is your center, you are unstoppable.
I want to be known as someone after God's own heart who is ready to do His Will {Side note: Y'all - this was like the day before God dropped the bomb on me of going overseas!!!}
April 1
I am beginning to wonder if God really does want me some where else soon {Side note.. sorry...I won't keep doing this...ok, yes I probably will: Within the previous 2 weeks, four people had mentioned to me at separate times about leaving Montgomery and teaching elsewhere}. Today's bible study also talked about letting God have control and trying not to control because it only brings anxiety. Yes.
What does God want from me in the future (job & life)?
Read Psalms 31!!
v1-In thee, oh Lord, do I put my trust
v2-Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me
*v3-For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me
v14-But I trusted in thee, oh Lord; I said, Thou art my God
v15-my times are in thy hand
v19-oh how great is thy goodness, which thou has laid up for them that fear you
*v24-be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord
April 5
Praying about teaching Internationally!! [THERE IT IS!! This was after several days of freaking out!!] God has connected me with two different women who have international school connections and I have begun working on my applications.
2 Corinthians 3:5-6
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God [little did I know how powerful that would be for me in the next few months/year]; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament [the gospel]; not of the letter [the old covenant - the law], but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
Excerpt for ATR that week:
"We must come to our situations (life, finances, singlenss, big job, decisions, etc) knowing that God equips for His purpose those He calls."
"But by the Grace of God I am what I am..." 1 Cor 15:10
Y'all, God knew the plan from the start. Nothing...absolutely nothing...surprises Him! And how thankful we should be about that!! Praise the Lord that the Faithful Jehovah Elohim (Almighty Creator God) is all-knowing, all-seeing, and ever present!
He does, in fact, have everything under control.
Yet, we are continually in shock when something happens and we can see how it was connected to something a year ago (or even 10 years ago) that happened in our lives.
Yes, God knows.
And He does have a plan and a purpose for every little thing that is going on in your life.
[Final side note: If you don't journal, I would highly encourage you to start. It is just a great way to see the Lord's faithfulness woven in to all parts of your life. My journal entries are not long and eloquent...in fact, sometimes that are short and even silly to look back on. But it's worth it to be able to read back over how the Lord has been faithful.]
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Thirty-seven
Thirty-seven...
...is "the normal human body temperature in degrees Celsius" (which I will be needing to review before moving to Hungary).
...is "the number of plays William Shakespeare is said to have written".
..."was the international dialing code of the German Democratic Republic (aka East Germany). Today the +37 prefix is shared by Lithuania (+370), Latvia (+371), Estonia (+372), Moldova (+373), Armenia (+374), Belarus (+375), Andorra (+376), Monaco (+377), San Marino (+378) and Vatican City (+379)" (some of which are close-ish neighbors to Hungary).
...is "the normal human body temperature in degrees Celsius" (which I will be needing to review before moving to Hungary).
...is "the number of plays William Shakespeare is said to have written".
..."was the international dialing code of the German Democratic Republic (aka East Germany). Today the +37 prefix is shared by Lithuania (+370), Latvia (+371), Estonia (+372), Moldova (+373), Armenia (+374), Belarus (+375), Andorra (+376), Monaco (+377), San Marino (+378) and Vatican City (+379)" (some of which are close-ish neighbors to Hungary).
[Thank you, wikipedia...]
Thirty-seven is also the percentage of support that I have raised! Praise the Lord!
I had the honor of speaking in my home church of Lakeview Baptist in Auburn, AL this weekend. What a privilege it was to stand in the same pulpit as many of my modern-day heroes of faith, including my parents - who stood in the same pulpit twenty+ years ago, sharing about where God was leading their family. It's surreal that I'm the second generation to be loved on by that church, prayed for by that church, and supported by that church as I go overseas to do what God has called me to do! What a blessing!
To those of you who are already supporting me, thank you! To those of you who are interested, please e-mail me (hhocutt@teachbeyond.org), because I would LOVE to set up a time to tell you more about what I will be doing in Budapest. I have already sent out one newsletter, and am still trying to get the hang of it (...sorry...). So if you didn't receive that e-mail, message me and I will double check to make sure I have your e-mail set up correctly!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers! The enemy is alive and well, and he clearly doesn't want me to continue down this path (which makes me all the more motivated to continue down this path!)! Pray for strength to keep pushing through when things get hard. Pray for faith and trust in the ONLY THING that is constant - God! Pray for my current class, that I will be all-there for them and their families. Pray for our school as we push onward towards accreditation. (We should be finishing up at the end of March).
This song was sung on Sunday, and it resonates with me right now:
Precious cornerstone, sure foundation
You are faithful to the end
We are waiting, on You, Jesus
We believe You're all to us
Let the glory of Your name be the passion of the Church
Let the righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns
Let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives
We believe You're all to us
Only Son of God sent from Heaven
Hope and mercy at the cross
You are everything, You're the Promise
Jesus, You are all to us
When this passing world is over
We will see You face to face
And forever we will worship
Jesus, You are all to us
You are faithful to the end
We are waiting, on You, Jesus
We believe You're all to us
Let the glory of Your name be the passion of the Church
Let the righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns
Let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives
We believe You're all to us
Only Son of God sent from Heaven
Hope and mercy at the cross
You are everything, You're the Promise
Jesus, You are all to us
When this passing world is over
We will see You face to face
And forever we will worship
Jesus, You are all to us
May Jesus be all to you, friend.
More updates to come!! 😊
Following His call,
Hannah
hhocutt@teachbeyond.org
https://give.teachbeyond.org/support/hannah-hocutt/
http://teachbeyond.org/
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Fifteen
"Because 15 is the product of distinct Fermat primes, 3 and 5, a regular polygon with 15 sides is constructible with compass and unmarked straightedge, and cos π/15 is expressible in terms of square roots"
Thank you, Wikipedia, for making me look smart! 😊
I AM EXCITED TO SAY THAT I AM AT 15% SUPPORT!
******* confetti ******* cheers ******* confetti ****** cheers *******
I am so thankful for how the Lord is providing! Still have 85% to go before I can purchase my plane ticket!! To all of you who have supported me financially and in prayer, I am so thankful for your partnership! You are a blessing, even if you don't know it! For all of you that are interested, pray about how God might want to use you!
I am looking forward to more years of partnering with you as the Lord furthers His Kingdom in Budapest!!
Check out my personal giving page to see how the Lord can use you!
My e-mail is hhocutt@teachbeyond.org - if you have any prayer requests, let me know and I will pray!
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Progress...
Progress...
Ahh...
Well, there has been some! Haha! It is slow and steady, but that's what wins the race, so they say!
So far, I have .07% of my support raised! Yay! That is progress! Maybe this week we can bump that up to a double-digit number!! I am so thankful to the people who are following God's lead and have partnered with me so far! You are valued and you are what will help me make a difference in Budapest!
I am continuing to gather contact information for people and I would love you e-mail address! If I haven't already asked, please feel free to go ahead and send it to me at hhocutt@teachbeyond.org
Also, this is my personalized giving page, where you can join the Hungary team! GIVE HERE!
I do have a few prayer requests, and I would love for you to intercede on my behalf.
- School. Yes, I am still teaching, and yes it is still very busy and very exhausting and very rewarding! I have seen so much growth in my students throughout the year, but I ask you to continue to pray for strength as I juggle many hats right now, one of the most important being "teacher".
- Support raising. I am thrilled to be learning to trust God at a new level as I embark on this journey of faith! Thank you to those of you who have already been praying for me daily! I can feel your prayers - bless you!! I ask that you continue to pray! Pray for strength, mentally and emotionally. There are so many details to work out right now and a lot of things to keep track of. Pray for boldness! Pray that I am able to step out in the confidence of the One who has sent me, knowing that He has said "Be strong and very courageous...I AM has sent you." (Josh 1:9 and Ex. 3:14). Pray that I can maximize the time I have available and use it the best way I can! Pray for endurance, as I "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:14)
- Ministry partners. Pray the God begins to move in the hearts of believers and that He gives them a passion for Budapest and ICSB. Pray that they seek His will for their finances and that they would be greatly blessed!
Following His Call,
Hannah💖
hhocutt@teachbeyond.org
skype: hhocutt
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Welcome 2017!
To all you who have shown support and encouragement already...THANK YOU!! I am so blessed to have so many friends and family who are excited to partner with me!
Below is the link to my personalized giving page!!!
Hooray!!!
Also, if you go to the TeachBeyond giving page, you can also donate! Just use my name and this account number (40525). Don't worry, this is not like a bank account number - it is simply tied to me!
If you feel like doing an end-of-the-year donation, it's all set up - and I thank you in advanced!
There will be more info posted regularly here on my blog, so check back for more details!
Many blessings upon you and yours as this New Year begins!
~~~~~
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
(Old Irish Blessing)
~~~~~
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
I'm going to.....
Well, it's official! I'm going to be teaching at the.....
International Christian School in Budapest!!
Hooray! Adventures of Hannah in Hungary has begun! I have been offered an elementary school position and will be finding out what grade in the coming months. The sending agency that I am going through is TeachBeyond (check out their website here) and I am so thrilled to be partnered with them (since they really know what they are doing)!! The school is amazing and I am incredibly blessed to work under David Welsh, who I had the privilege of meeting along with his wife, Jennifer, in June at Cafe Louisa's in Old Cloverdale. Little did I know at that time that they were exactly who the Lord wanted me working for! I have heard so many great things about the school, and if you are interested in learning more, check out their webpage!⭅
There are SO many things that will be coming down the road for me in the next few months!! One of the biggest is raising prayer and financial support. I would so greatly appreciate you partnering with me and praying over me as I begin this support-raising journey! Pray that:
- God would prepare the way for me as I begin support raising and preparing myself to go overseas. (more on that later)
- God will protect me from the attacks of the enemy. I know this is exactly what Satan does not want me doing, and I feel certain that all areas of my life and work will be targeted. Pray for strength to keep pursuing what the Lord has called me to do.
- God will give me wisdom as I begin to cover all the details. There are so many details, y'all! I find myself stressing over all the "to-do" lists that are building and all the big and little details that are being presented to me (ME - of all people) to accomplish. It is most definitely a God-sized task (as is this whole process)!
- God will begin preparing the hearts of the people I will work with in Budapest (coworkers, students, missionaries and MKs, random people who God will put in my path). I wouldn't be going if there wasn't a need. I am so looking forward to being able to "give back" to the MKs, like so many wonderful young missionaries did to me in years gone by!
- I will not have a lot of migraines during this process. I get them when I am stressed and exhausted (and I see some of that in my future...haha).
- I will have a good physical (in the next few months) and get a clean bill-of-health.
- God will give me the ability to prepare to go, but also to finish the task at hand - teaching at Montgomery Christian School. Pray that I will be filled with energy and love for those that are currently under my care, and that I will not lose sight of the moments He needs me here by becoming enraptured by the things He has for me in the future. To everything there is a season.
- God will provide a replacement first grade teacher at MCS to take my place for the next school year.
This is just the tip of the iceberg! There are so many things that will be happening in 2017 and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store! If any of you are already interested in helping to support me on this journey, I would love to have your e-mail address so that I can contact you when I know more!
My new e-mail is hhocutt@teachbeyond.org
(I will still have my gmail account, but I will begin shifting over to my TeachBeyond e-mail as the year progresses). I will also have prayer cards and a personalized giving page that will be ready soon and will have more information about my adventure in Budapest! I will probably be using my blog (this one) as my personal newsletter for the time being, so save it as one of your favorites (this is a helpful link on how to do that) so that you can keep up with what's going on with the
Adventures of Hannah In Hungary!
Adventures of Hannah In Hungary!
skype: hhocutt
personalized giving page: TBA
Friday, September 30, 2016
When the road ahead begins to curve...
God has been doing some mighty things in my life over the
past years, but especially in the past few months.
 | |
| "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21 |
For the last several years, He has begun making it clear to
me that I need to have complete trust in Him and His plans for my life. My life
is far from what I imagined, but I am learning, daily, to thank Him for being
in control and for guiding my life where He wants it. I have also been so
overwhelmed by His endless grace and faithfulness, even when…especially when…I
fail Him! He used a very difficult student several years ago to reveal to me
just how great His mercy TO ME is, and how undeserving I am. God has also been
teaching me that I must find “who I am” in Him alone. For a people person, that
is very hard! I love to be surrounded by people and fun, always making memories
and having a good old time! But, living as a single person has been hard! Even
though it’s been hard, I am constantly reminded by the Lord that being with
people is not what fulfills me or truly renews my energy. HE alone can provide
what I need and be enough. This, too, has not been an easy journey!
The most recent journey that the Lord has been taking me on
has been the hardest yet.
In March, God used a random friend, along with several
other random (to my eyes) friends and conversations to start me on a whole new
path! After praying a lot and seeking the counsel of some godly friends and
family, I am so excited to tell you that I will be moving overseas to teach at
an International Christian School!! As I’ve prayed, the Lord has revealed each
step of the way! Honestly, though, He hasn’t revealed much more than a few
steps at a time! I know He wants me to go next summer/fall, but He has yet to
fully give me direction on which school! Most International Christian Schools
are faith-based and basically “volunteer”, which means I will not receive a
traditional paycheck. However, I am not worried, because the Lord is ultimately
in control! I will begin support raising soon and am fully trusting that the
Lord will provide how He pleases! I love the quote from Hudson Taylor, the
great missionary to China, which says, “God’s will, done in God’s way, will
never lack God’s provision.” I am fully confident that the Lord will provide
for me every step of the way! Because of having to support raise, I was guided
by several friends who have worked overseas to pursue a mission sending agency.
All I have known was the IMB, so this is very new for me! For the past several
months, I have been in communication with someone from TeachBeyond, which is a
mission sending agency specifically for teachers who are going overseas. They
have put me in contact with several schools overseas and I have been actively
praying for God’s guidance as to where He wants me. I just found out that I have been accepted into the TeachBeyond program!
Here are some very specific ways you can pray for me:
- Pray for the Lord’s guidance and my faith to know which school to continue pursuing. Pray that I move “self” out of the way and fully seek the Lord’s will, not Hannah’s will. I have narrowed some options down, but I am still waiting on final decisions.
- Pray for peace and calmness for me throughout the process. This school year is going to be busy and there are still a lot of big decisions that I have to make. I will also be having to handle lots of details in the process, and details are not my natural forte!
- Pray for my heart as I begin the undertaking of raising my support. Please also pray for the men and women, girl and boys, that God has prepared to help support me! He is the great provider and will move His finances wherever He needs them, but pray that the people He urges will be sensitive to His guiding.
I am so thankful that God has put me where I am right now, but I am so excited to see what He has planned for me in the future! I have grown so much over the last several years and I am so
thankful that He allowed me to have so many of you be a part of my life! I treasure you and
greatly covet your prayers, as you come alongside me and intercede with me for
the Father’s will to be done!
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.Isaiah 6:8
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Scamp Adventures 1
Her name was Scamp. Really it was Sara Campton. But everyone always called her Scamp. She was 26 and had a nickname. Scamp. Did she like it? She didn't even know. It seemed more like her real name then her real name. She was Scamp to everyone that knew her.
But Tia didn't know her.
Yet.
Scamp lived on the second floor of a small apartment building on a busy street that headed downtown. This was her house. Her first place. Her pad. Her escape.
It had two small bedrooms, just enough for her and her piles of accumulated junk. Did she need it all? No.
But how do you part with things that are part of you?
You keep them in boxes and totes and bags and never touch them. But you keep them.
Someday you might need them.
She had a balcony that overlooked, well, a few sparse trees, a maintenance alley space with overgrown Eleagnus, and someone else's bare yard. She could see and easily hear the traffic that passed by on the busy road. Most of the cars that passed by had their music too loud. That was irritating. Do they want to be deaf? Does anybody care what they are listening to? Why must the house windows shiver as the music blasts past? Nothing should be that loud, not even thunder.
So many people. Going. Coming.
Busy people. Hectic lives.
Broken people. Devastated lives.
Bad people. Sinful lives.
Hardly anyone stopped, and no one every waved.
They all passed by her house, yet she never knew them. How could so many people all be going the same places and never cross paths?
Her small balcony was bare, except for a beach chair, a candle, and a random shelf thing. It had nothing on it. There were plans for it, like so many other things in Scamp's life, but it was still empty. Maybe it would work for propping her feet up? Scamp always wanted to sit out there, but the mosquitoes were too bad. That's why she bought the candle. That was five months ago and she had never lit it.
Maybe she would sit out there and do cool things.
Someday.
Her favorite part about her little haven was the big room.
Ah, the big room.
The only part of the house that looked like a house. It was decorated, in some odd, artistic yet uncoordinated way. The fireplace had great plans. Christmas would cause everyone to be green with envy over the dreams of the fireplace and mantle. Right now, it was full of a random collection of glass. Scamp had a problem. Glass is cool, but is it necessary to have a bazillion odd-sized jars, pitchers, and candle holders? It just added to the room's eccentricity.
The two fabulous old parlor chairs were antique and delightfully mustard yellow. Eventually they would be a more subtle color. Probably some variety of blue. The plaid couch added plenty of personality. Someday it too would endure a makeover. Hopefully not a DIY one.
The rug was one of Scamp's first big purchases. She went with neutral and traditional. She hoped it wasn't a mistake.
There was a rickety painted metal shelf in one strange-shaped nook that had a few games and picture albums on it. It used to be 70's green. That would be avocado. Then it was spray painted barn red. Then it was poorly spray painted brown by Scamp.
That is basically who Scamp is. She always has great ideas and good intentions, but things end up done half-way and not with great care. Like the strand of twinkle lights that burned out and was draped haphazardly across the rug. The strand burned out long ago but Scamp liked the little beaded globes that were on it. She started taking them off last week to put them on another strand, probably to hang on the mantle, but the project was abandoned one night, never to be picked up until she cleaned. Cleaning at this house meant hiding things in other rooms. Another project that started out hot and ended up not, was the basket of yarn under the coffee table. It contained the remains of many a craft begun with good intentions, but abandoned when interest was lost.
The coffee table, however, and the entertainment center, were Scamp's pride and joy. A successful example of a completed DIY project. At this house, those are few and far between. The coffee table was coral with the intentions of being the pop of color in the living room. Unfortunately, with the other above mentioned pieces, it was one of many pops of color. Colors that did not mesh.
The entertainment center was an old dresser from the garage of an old house. The bottom drawer was broken so a shelf had been put in it's place. It was painted a smoky gray-blue. Scamp loved it. It held her bizarre old TV that looked like a computer screen with funny ears. Many a happy hour was spent snuggled up on the busy plaid couch watching delightful movies on that goofy little TV.
With a last ditch effort to try and create a designer living room, Scamp had hung two gorgeous landscape canvases on the wall. Only those two things were on the wall, though, so it still looked a little bare.
This is where Scamp spent most of her time, when she wasn't sleeping.
Tonight was no exception.
She was sitting on her plump couch, staring at the blinds, and listening to traffic going by on the road.
She really wished she was going somewhere, too. To be with people. She needed people.
That's why living alone was so hard. Yes, it was nice to come home and not have to take care of anyone or impress anyone, but being the only one in this patchwork house got old. Really fast. Really, really fast.
It's not that Scamp didn't have friends and it's not like she was antisocial or awkward. It was just hard getting someone to hang out.
People in their twenties are just beginning their careers and are always busy. There has to be a very good reason to give up their time and commit to doing something. Most of their closest friendships have already been established. It's a pity if you have to move elsewhere and start over, because all the good people are already befriended and bestie-ed. Friend groups are created and people just run in certain circles. If you're in a circle, you rarely lack for a social event! If you are between circles, you get some benefits of the circles, but there's no consistency. You end up sitting on your couch, on a Saturday night, listening to traffic when those two friend circles both spin off in different directions, leaving you standing in the middle, staring at the blinds in your living room.
That is where Scamp was.
She sighed and stood up. Maybe tonight was a good night to use her balcony porch for something. A disco ball and dance party sounded great, but she resisted. Her balcony was still slightly visible from the road and people might stare.
Instead, she pulled on her sweats, grabbed a cold drink, lit her tiki bucket-candle for the first time, and put on some music. She watched the evening sky darken. She felt the first stings of bugs that dared to brave the weak tiki bucket-candle. Did it even work? Soon, the moon was rising up through the trees. She couldn't tell if it was full, but it was at least bright. She dragged the little bucket-candle closer and closer each time she felt another bite. Finally it was sitting directly in front of her feet and she could feel the smoke floating against her legs. There were not as many bites now but if she shifted too suddenly she might burn down the apartments.
She quietly sang along to her favorite songs as they played and swatted a stray mosquito.
"Hi," said a voice.
The voice was a little high pitched and scratchy. It came from the bare yard that Scamp's balcony overlooked.
Scamp sat up and leaned towards the railing to get a better look. Who was that?
She had never seen the pitiful little swing that hung dejectedly from an old oak. As it swung slowly, the big limb slumped a little bit and then would slowly rise back up.
Now she saw the body that belonged to the voice.
"Hi," Scamp said back, smiling.
The voice belonged to a little light brown-haired girl gracefully swinging on the old swing. Her hair was pulled back in a long, tangled ponytail. Her bangs were fluffed some from the breeze and parted a little in the middle. Stray wisps floated around her face as she swung back and forth. Her shirt was purple and orange striped and her shorts were a pale blue and white polka dot pattern. Both were distinctly faded and well worn from hours of play. Neither matched the other.
Her dirty feet grazed the ground in a steady motion each time she came back down on an extra bare part of the yard. That spot had been hard earned by hours on that swing.
The little girl stared up at the tree and swung a few more minutes.
Then she spoke again, confidently.
"My name is Tia."
But Tia didn't know her.
Yet.
Scamp lived on the second floor of a small apartment building on a busy street that headed downtown. This was her house. Her first place. Her pad. Her escape.
It had two small bedrooms, just enough for her and her piles of accumulated junk. Did she need it all? No.
But how do you part with things that are part of you?
You keep them in boxes and totes and bags and never touch them. But you keep them.
Someday you might need them.
She had a balcony that overlooked, well, a few sparse trees, a maintenance alley space with overgrown Eleagnus, and someone else's bare yard. She could see and easily hear the traffic that passed by on the busy road. Most of the cars that passed by had their music too loud. That was irritating. Do they want to be deaf? Does anybody care what they are listening to? Why must the house windows shiver as the music blasts past? Nothing should be that loud, not even thunder.
So many people. Going. Coming.
Busy people. Hectic lives.
Broken people. Devastated lives.
Bad people. Sinful lives.
Hardly anyone stopped, and no one every waved.
They all passed by her house, yet she never knew them. How could so many people all be going the same places and never cross paths?
Her small balcony was bare, except for a beach chair, a candle, and a random shelf thing. It had nothing on it. There were plans for it, like so many other things in Scamp's life, but it was still empty. Maybe it would work for propping her feet up? Scamp always wanted to sit out there, but the mosquitoes were too bad. That's why she bought the candle. That was five months ago and she had never lit it.
Maybe she would sit out there and do cool things.
Someday.
Her favorite part about her little haven was the big room.
Ah, the big room.
The only part of the house that looked like a house. It was decorated, in some odd, artistic yet uncoordinated way. The fireplace had great plans. Christmas would cause everyone to be green with envy over the dreams of the fireplace and mantle. Right now, it was full of a random collection of glass. Scamp had a problem. Glass is cool, but is it necessary to have a bazillion odd-sized jars, pitchers, and candle holders? It just added to the room's eccentricity.
The two fabulous old parlor chairs were antique and delightfully mustard yellow. Eventually they would be a more subtle color. Probably some variety of blue. The plaid couch added plenty of personality. Someday it too would endure a makeover. Hopefully not a DIY one.
The rug was one of Scamp's first big purchases. She went with neutral and traditional. She hoped it wasn't a mistake.
There was a rickety painted metal shelf in one strange-shaped nook that had a few games and picture albums on it. It used to be 70's green. That would be avocado. Then it was spray painted barn red. Then it was poorly spray painted brown by Scamp.
That is basically who Scamp is. She always has great ideas and good intentions, but things end up done half-way and not with great care. Like the strand of twinkle lights that burned out and was draped haphazardly across the rug. The strand burned out long ago but Scamp liked the little beaded globes that were on it. She started taking them off last week to put them on another strand, probably to hang on the mantle, but the project was abandoned one night, never to be picked up until she cleaned. Cleaning at this house meant hiding things in other rooms. Another project that started out hot and ended up not, was the basket of yarn under the coffee table. It contained the remains of many a craft begun with good intentions, but abandoned when interest was lost.
The coffee table, however, and the entertainment center, were Scamp's pride and joy. A successful example of a completed DIY project. At this house, those are few and far between. The coffee table was coral with the intentions of being the pop of color in the living room. Unfortunately, with the other above mentioned pieces, it was one of many pops of color. Colors that did not mesh.
The entertainment center was an old dresser from the garage of an old house. The bottom drawer was broken so a shelf had been put in it's place. It was painted a smoky gray-blue. Scamp loved it. It held her bizarre old TV that looked like a computer screen with funny ears. Many a happy hour was spent snuggled up on the busy plaid couch watching delightful movies on that goofy little TV.
With a last ditch effort to try and create a designer living room, Scamp had hung two gorgeous landscape canvases on the wall. Only those two things were on the wall, though, so it still looked a little bare.
This is where Scamp spent most of her time, when she wasn't sleeping.
Tonight was no exception.
She was sitting on her plump couch, staring at the blinds, and listening to traffic going by on the road.
She really wished she was going somewhere, too. To be with people. She needed people.
That's why living alone was so hard. Yes, it was nice to come home and not have to take care of anyone or impress anyone, but being the only one in this patchwork house got old. Really fast. Really, really fast.
It's not that Scamp didn't have friends and it's not like she was antisocial or awkward. It was just hard getting someone to hang out.
People in their twenties are just beginning their careers and are always busy. There has to be a very good reason to give up their time and commit to doing something. Most of their closest friendships have already been established. It's a pity if you have to move elsewhere and start over, because all the good people are already befriended and bestie-ed. Friend groups are created and people just run in certain circles. If you're in a circle, you rarely lack for a social event! If you are between circles, you get some benefits of the circles, but there's no consistency. You end up sitting on your couch, on a Saturday night, listening to traffic when those two friend circles both spin off in different directions, leaving you standing in the middle, staring at the blinds in your living room.
That is where Scamp was.
She sighed and stood up. Maybe tonight was a good night to use her balcony porch for something. A disco ball and dance party sounded great, but she resisted. Her balcony was still slightly visible from the road and people might stare.
Instead, she pulled on her sweats, grabbed a cold drink, lit her tiki bucket-candle for the first time, and put on some music. She watched the evening sky darken. She felt the first stings of bugs that dared to brave the weak tiki bucket-candle. Did it even work? Soon, the moon was rising up through the trees. She couldn't tell if it was full, but it was at least bright. She dragged the little bucket-candle closer and closer each time she felt another bite. Finally it was sitting directly in front of her feet and she could feel the smoke floating against her legs. There were not as many bites now but if she shifted too suddenly she might burn down the apartments.
She quietly sang along to her favorite songs as they played and swatted a stray mosquito.
"Hi," said a voice.
The voice was a little high pitched and scratchy. It came from the bare yard that Scamp's balcony overlooked.
Scamp sat up and leaned towards the railing to get a better look. Who was that?
She had never seen the pitiful little swing that hung dejectedly from an old oak. As it swung slowly, the big limb slumped a little bit and then would slowly rise back up.
Now she saw the body that belonged to the voice.
"Hi," Scamp said back, smiling.
The voice belonged to a little light brown-haired girl gracefully swinging on the old swing. Her hair was pulled back in a long, tangled ponytail. Her bangs were fluffed some from the breeze and parted a little in the middle. Stray wisps floated around her face as she swung back and forth. Her shirt was purple and orange striped and her shorts were a pale blue and white polka dot pattern. Both were distinctly faded and well worn from hours of play. Neither matched the other.
Her dirty feet grazed the ground in a steady motion each time she came back down on an extra bare part of the yard. That spot had been hard earned by hours on that swing.
The little girl stared up at the tree and swung a few more minutes.
Then she spoke again, confidently.
"My name is Tia."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)