A belated notification of a profound state of love for being home.

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Please forgive the title...sometimes my characteristic verbosity and penchant for superfluous writing gets the better of me.

Well, I made it home, obviously. Coming home wasnt everything I anticipated in some ways, but in some ways it exceeded my expectations. Overall and completely...its definitely good to be home. Its funny though, that my parents left to go out of town 2 days after I got back though. They had a long planned trip to Massachusetts, and I chose not to go in favor of working. I have a temporary paid-internship at Classical Movements Inc, essentially a travel agency, but for huge organizations like the National Symphony Orch. and the Boston Philarmonic and such. It is tour season, so it is really hectic at the office, but I like it. I'll also be getting my security clearance approved for a job with a firm that does work for the Dept. of Treasury's FinCEN division, as well as at the CIA headquarters out at Langley. It'll be nice work, and very nice pay as well, but only part time. So I am going to fill up the rest of my time during these summer weeks with working at Banana Republic, another great place to work, as well as one that is a short scooter ride in Old Towne away. Scooter is my fav. transport in the city here, as it is easy, gas efficient as all get out, and is able to circumvent alot of the aggravations of normal car traffic. I know that is bad, but hey, whatever makes for a better commute is fine by me.

True to their word, my friends have thrown me a few coming home parties, different parties with people from different schools and respective circles. It has been fun and whatnot, but its just not the same, and I am glad in a way that its all done with. That stuff really doesnt hold the same kind of clout with me anymore, which I think is a good thing for the most part. Being that I have to maintain a 3.3 or better GPA to maintain a scholarship at any school that I end up at after UMW if I decide to leave there, it'll be good that I am not so enthused about partying and all that stuff as some people will be. An instance of where I am actually glad about the misadventures of yesteryears, as I think they stand me in good stead for future endeavours and success, if that makes a bit of sense.

I really cannot wait for my parents to get home, as it will be very great to be able to spend the rest of the summer with them before I go to college this fall.

As for the rest of the summer, I'll be working, catching the occasional good show (such as the Deftones or DMB on the 27th of July), and working with my new band, as we just finished up two last tracks to an album that commenced before I left. It'll be good, and I have been able to put most of the unwelcome sights/experiences behind me from my travels, and the rest will assuredly subside with time and continued prayer. After I finish the debriefing of sorts that NG has graciously provided me with, I plan on leaving my travels a largely closed thing, just like the photos and knacks and things brought back that are now stowed in my old footlocker from FUMA. It'll assuredly be revisited in the near future, but I will enjoy a break from all that for a while, until I possibly go to France later on this summer, if I decide to still do that...but I just have such a wealth of stuff from Sudan that I am reconsidering the original plan in favor of a pure article on just the general situation and state of Islam there. For those who want to see photos from the Sudan, I apologize for not posting, but those who are close to me, be they family or close friends will see them all in good time once I am ready to revisit it as a whole.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for the emails, certain people for their comments and support (you know who you are), and everyone for their continued prayers for me both before, during, and after my return home. I have come back a bit different than before (excluding still being pale, of course, haha), but everyones continued prayers made all the difference, of that I am assured. One of the guys with us, a man (I guess I am one now too, an odd thought) much older than I am who was on his first (and not last) trip over there is still pretty messed up about some things, and he is handling his problems with substance alone being that he has no faith, a sad but true reality for some; and another cause for me being grateful for the support, love and prayer from everyone. Thanks again, with all the sincerity and gratitude I possess.

-David

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