This morning I woke up in a freezing cold room on an air mattress. I felt exhausted and utterly unwilling to wake up. I could say I felt motivated and ready to start work, but that would be a lie. I halfway wanted to be at home sleeping-in until 9 or 10, but as everyone continues to remind me, I won't ever forget this, and there's no other way I'd rather spend these first few days of my eighteenth year.
Breakfast was at seven-thirty. Nothing fancy, just cereal and coffee (if you could call it that; no offense Dave). I had left over birthday cake. Then we had devotions, which was Dave telling us his favorite verse and explaining a bit.
Soon after breakfast we went to work. A few of the gents tackled the floor, and I was named Painting Queen/Team Manager Extraordinaire, etc. etc. etc. As the youngest on the team, this was extremely strange, but wonderful all the same. A good portion of the team painted all day. Primer, paint, trim, cutting in, sash brushes, two-inch rollers. Poor Mr. Allison must have made half a dozen trips to Home Depot because we kept running out of supplies. So over half the team reported to me all day, asking me questions about what to do next, where to put this, whether this got painted or that got painted. I was Miss Maddie, the project leader. I think I like this, just a bit. At least I enjoyed it for the day. Lisa would be proud.
We got two huge rooms painted, one- the eat-in kitchen, and the other- the large dining hall. The walls are cinder blocks so the painting was no easy task, but we pretty much worked all day and have one room done, and the other close enough. The floors are also well under way. All the tile is laid I think and so the boys just need to grout it.
We ladies prepared lunch at midday, and then dad and I walked downtown and got me my happy drug because I was on the verge of collapse, (although I'm doing quite well for me I think; averaging two cups a day!) We quit work around 5, everything was cleaned and put back together as much as possible.
I was tired then, and I'm exhausted now. I have piles of homework I'm supposed to be doing to keep up with my classes, and I haven't had any time or energy. My feet hurt, my neck is sore, my body's tired. And I haven't showered! Ugh.
Actually, I'm not really miserable at all. I'm really content. There have been no problems. Everyone gets along so well, and the sense of humor is never dull. I love witty, sarcastic adults, and I love southern people in general because they are fond of such dry wit. I like everyone so well. I'm tired, but happy.
This evening a group of us went into Nashville and went to dinner at some nice-ish place, filled with stuffed animals (gross), but also sorting spunky southern waitresses with jokes galore and personality plus. Our waitress had purple streaks in her hair and the most sincere, loud laugh I've ever heard. She was such a hoot. She sang me some obnoxious birthday song when she brought my day-late birthday desert (thanks to Kathy's tip). At dinner Mr. Allison taught me what he considers the most important lesson I've learned on this trip...(read this with a smile and perceive it with sarcasm)..."You must date a Christian, and if you fall for someone who isn't, just wait until they become one." Oh dear. The second most important lesson I've learned (according to him) is that I must have a honeymoon at the Grand Ole Opry. We visited the hotel. IT WAS GORGEOUS!
I consider the most important lesson learned, to charge the camera batteries before you go any place as amazing as the Grand Ole Opry! I snapped as many shots as I could before the dang battery died. OH BOTHER! It has proved absolutely necessary that Kathy and Mr. Allison have their more portable cameras with them most all the time, because with just me, we'd miss several things that should be captured...
Home now. Everything's charging. I'm writing this and then I'm going to try to tackle some of this homework. One thing's for sure. My body is not meant to work all day long, stay on my feet, and then have the mental ability to do homework for three hours. I could never live like this for a long period of time, and I confess I get discouraged when I think I have two more full days of work with no rest, but it's worth it. I just have to remind myself I get to sleep for six hours before I work again.
I miss everyone at home, especially mom. And I keep thinking about my dear friends and how odd it is not to be constantly available to them. I miss you all. Take hugs and kisses from me, and know you're all on my mind.
