Back to Bode
I was all set for the hit of nostalgia as I rounded the corner on Zeiglestrasse at seeing the familiar entrance to Bodenseehof, so I was a bit surprised when a construction site covered the entrance. Took me a minute to find my way in but from the hallway one almost everything was familiar. On the first day Jonathan came by with his fiancee, and then Tasha arrived so the three of us hung around Friedrischafen. The week was filled with many trips to cafes and bakeries, walks around the country side and overall an amazing spiritual re-centring. The speaker this week was Johan the crazy Dutchman and even though I remember his talks from four years ago it was a nice reminder. Steve Volle's message was also very prevalent. In the Psalms, David repeatedly writes 'O my soul', which can be translated to 'I tell myself' so going back to the source of our faith, even if it's something we've heard a hundred times is still important.
It was so much fun meeting all of Steve's friends and to put names to faces. His year seems absolutely amazing, so many friendly people who were wonderful to share the week with. Tasha and I had an amazing time in the sauna, played a few rounds of pool, which I lost badly and finally went shoe shopping so my feet no longer leak! It was amazing just walking around town seeing places that are so common but they hold little memories, not the big ones where you take pictures or write about, just the shopping, walking around, everyday memories. If I was every looking for Steve, it was pretty much guaranteed that he was in the Honeycomb playing Bang, a western card game, whose players refer to themselves as 'the Bang Gang." Yes, the obvious joke is made incessantly. I've also learned a new game called Exploding Kittens, a card version of roulette, which is my new favourite thing ever. Overall, certain familial similarities between Steven and myself were frequently commented upon.
I may have caused a bit of mischief. Mainly by the distribution of a certain "Man Exposed" video that was filmed our year, featuring the now RA Nate Korzan as "Straight Shot," the Bode womanizer with 107% style. Dangerous stuff. I've heard back from a few of the students that it is now imbedded in Bode culture.
My brief week here has been so purifying, the de-stressing after travel and the simplicity of wonderful fellowship. I said goodbye to Steve at the Fischbach West bus stop; him in pjs as the snow fell and German gave him sidelong glances. And I know he doesn't read my blogs so I can say how much I love him, am proud of him and loved spending time with the friends he's made.
