Falling...

It’s 6:45am on a Saturday.  I woke up this morning feeling alive.  I got dressed and headed out to get a cup of coffee.  Thankfully, I live within walking distance to a couple of great coffee shops.  I walked outside and had to side-step the biggest slug I’ve ever seen AND he was leopard print – impressive.  The fall air washed over me.  I was dressed for hot yoga in shorts and a long sleeve shirt, but my legs were definitely chilled.  I thought about going into change before taking my coffee walk, but I gratefully appreciated the feel of fall on my skin and decided to go with it.

I took a minute to really breathe in.  There were a couple of sleep-eyed people out walking their dogs.  It seemed like the only 2 people out doing that had pugs, which I found to be a bit coincidental and funny.  The streets were quiet – only a few cars passed by.  I got my coffee, had some witty banter about the weather with the barista and then headed back home. 

As I was walking back, one of the trees in the distance caught my eye.  The leaves were falling to the ground…  They looked like golden specks from where I was, but I could see them clearly.  Wow.  It’s already fall…time is flying.

Some of you probably read the title and thought – “this must be a blog about Megan falling in love with someone…FINALLY!”  Um, no.  But – I am falling back in love with life, with God, with my job, with every breath…  It’s true, I don’t have anyone to wake up to, roll and say the famous 3 words that everyone so longs to hear.  BUT, I am able to whisper them to God and to be thankful for where my life is at this moment. 

At 6:45am on a Saturday.  I woke up this morning feeling alive but already letting my mind spin on the spin cycle of all that I have to do today.  I’m always going to have a never-ending list of things to do, but I’m so glad that I took a few minutes to fall…

Birthdays, Trains, and Planes

Another birthday is just around the corner, but shhh – don’t tell anyone that I’m older because I feel better than ever!  I’m all about birthday cake though so don’t get me wrong – I WILL celebrate!  This past year…heck, the past month – I am continually learning more about this life and every single day – every breath that I’ve been given.

I’ve just landed in the U.S. back from Europe where I have been for 2 weeks and have seen many things through a different culture’s eyes.  I’ve traveled by subway, car, planes, trains, buses… (I think the only form of transportation that I missed was a boat.)  It’s been truly amazing.  The people, the food, the music… 

I had started to feel a hardening of my heart sometime before I left for this trip, and I can say have been rejuvenated, I have reconnected with my love of creating music, and have been touched by the kindness of the human race as well as have a deeper appreciation for home, friends and family.

I had a moment on one of the trains while in Italy.  I was overcome with emotion listening to a beautiful instrumentation track on a playlist that someone made for me before I left – what a gift.  The combination of the music with the scenery of the Italian countryside and knowing how far from home I was, feeling the blessing of the experience and in that moment – completely alone – jumping in head first – really shook me to the core.  THAT moment was amazing.  THAT is what life is about.  Living.  Opening our eyes and trusting that we are given what we need to make it. 

I’ll be walking away from this trip with a bunch of new friends, some really cool tunes and memories that I will cherish forever.  This place is rich in history, 2^nd hand smoke and wonderful people. I like that all of the taxis in Berlin are super nice Mercedes and that wherever I went – it sounded like beautiful jibberish. I like the energy and true passion at the soccer game – aka futbol where everyone was united in a drunken, smelly support of the home team. I love in Italy how everything tasted and looked so rich.  I like that cows crossing the road on top of the mountain is considered traffic. I love that people genuinely helped me wherever I went.  I was drenched in another culture, and it was great.

Thank you to everyone who I crossed paths with along my journey. Thank you to everyone who helped me and made me feel at home so far away. I can’t wait to see you all again!  Europe touched my heart and my soul and this trip was an eye-opening, life-changing one.  

Italia!!

Oh Italy…where do I begin?  I’m on the plane back to Berlin and my heart already aches missing you... 

Let’s see, I took 2 flights and probably about 10 trains while in Italy in the matter of 3 days.  I definitely spent as much traveling as I did with my friends Ashley and Jason, but it was so beyond worth it.  Italy was more than I imagined and I only got to see a very little bit.  I spent most of the time in a train looking out the window reflecting, talking to Italians and then eventually with Ashley and Jason in the foothills outside of Tuscany.  I had some “moments” for sure and truly have never experienced such beautiful country. 

The flight there shed some light on how my Italian adventure would go…  They come through the aisle to sell snacks and coffee and then they come through the aisle selling stuff…like Ipod chargers and perfume.  Wow.  Also on this flight I sat behind a couple who had a set of twins and another child.  The entire flight they ran up and down the aisle the entire flight and no one seemed to care at all.  I actually found it REALLY refreshing.  In the US people would have been absolutely freaking out – WHY are these children so out of hand?!!!  Sit them DOWN!!!  Instead, no one seemed to mind – they would smile every once in awhile and just not respond.  How freeing to just not mind.  The Italians are about being laid back in pretty much everything.  Some would argue they don’t discipline.  Maybe…but I found it enlightening. 

The people are wonderful – they smile, gawk, say what they want, and help out whenever they can. God bless the mother and daughter that helped me on the regional train to get the airport (I would have missed my flight back to Germany), the mom and daughter Swiss duo that helped me find the train in Berlin to Milan, the 2 beautiful girls flying from Berlin to Milan, Fabrizio for keeping me company while on my first Italian train, and also Giovanni who helped me learn how to flush the toilet on the train – you had to step on it by the way…  It was in the middle of the floor…  

 The food was THE. BEST. FOOD. I’VE. EVER. HAD.  Maybe minus the steak at Peter Luger’s in NYC – that’s still pushing it…  I have a new appreciation for completely organic food, and I have to say – I will have to come back to Italy just for the tomatoes and olives and bread and meat… oh jeez…  

More than all, thank you to my amazing friends Ashley and Jason who treated me to the time of my life for 2 ½ days.  Your hospitality, support and friendship mean more than you will EVER know.  It was amazing to see you – it was like we picked up from the last moment I saw you - we never missed a beat.  I am so beyond proud of all that you guys have done.  I was speechless when I looked around and took in all that you guys have created.  You're LIVING in paradise.  YOU created that dream.  Proud doesn't even start to describe how I feel.  You both are truly amazing. 

Everyone HAS to visit this place – I’m telling you – it will blow your mind…  It's like you're home on a farm house in italy with 2 of the best people on earth.  La Tavola Marche - http://www.latavolamarche.com/html/  Trust me on this one.

If I learned anything from this journey to Italy – more than ever – it’s to LIVE IN THE MOMENT.  It’s so easy for us to say,  yet putting it into action is another story.  Work will be there the next day.  Go have a dinner or a drink with your friend.  Tell your husband or wife you love them and show them. Stop and chat with someone. Take a drive.  Make a memory.  Laugh, eat, breathe, love, soak it in, be thankful.  Savor everything.  

Berlin 9/7/2011

I went running today – 8 miles – on the cobblestone streets of Berlin.  I looked around trying to soak it all in.  The smells are different here – stronger, like the coffee.  The people are friendly and laugh at me when I make a mistake like trying to figure out how to convert dollars to euros or when I spilled the tiny milk saucer that goes with the Americano that I ordered.  The dogs mostly run off leash up ahead of their owners and people play bocce in the park.  Everyone rides bikes and scarves are totally in.  Ahhh, Berlin… 

I have never really felt homesick before, but there is something about being an ocean away from the ones that you love that makes the soul feel a little ill at ease.  It’s giving me an appreciation for where I do live and for my friends and family.  I’ll less take advantage of the fact that I can go to the coffee shop and know almost everyone, call my best friend and pop over to her house for a chat or call my neighbor to borrow some milk.  It sounds so simple, but that’s what life is all about.

The food is amazing.  It’s all about meat, cheese and bread – a lot of cheese…and bread…and meat.  Mostly cheese and bread though.  J  I’m still not sure what a hostel is, but they are easy to find if you want one.  The buildings are so old with cute balconies… I imagine some heartbroken guy throwing a rock to the middle balcony trying to get the attention of his lost lover. 

 I can’t sleep here.  It’s the 2^nd night I’ve been here and it’s almost 2am and I’m STILL awake…  I thought you were supposed to be lagging with jet lag?!  Maybe it’s the coffee… I told you it was strong. 

I’m here to write songs.  So far 2 days and 2 songs in.  11 more days left with a 3 day break to Italy.  This is truly an experience that I won’t forget.  People are coming from all over the world to write together.  We all speak different languages but we in the apartment share one native tounge – music.  The words flow freely and the melodies twist around the room coming out of thin air so easily as if writing themselves. We made up a new dance move that I see going international and had a dance party for 3 people in the penthouse to one of the songs that we wrote on repeat.  This is a good start, and I can only imagine what tomorrow will bring. Ahhh…Berlin.  

Flying High

I’m on a plane right now.  However many thousands of feet above ground.  There’s a couple in front of me with a baby that has finally settled down and the person in the seat next to mine is a nice 21 year old coming back from visiting her military boyfriend.  

We talked awhile.  She’s totally in love you can see it on her face – in her eyes.  His imprint still on her lips...  I’m happy for her.  It’s always so interesting to think of each of these people’s lives… where they’re going, where they came from, what do they do for a living?  Do they know what it feels like to have a broken heart?  To feel the strongest joy in the world so much that you’re shaking with excitement?  Have they seen someone being born or seen someone die?  It’s amazing to think of the tapestery of lives out there – the web…and how we become intertwined maybe for just a second or maybe a lifetime. Deep stuff, huh? I obviously have some serious time to think on these flights.  Haha!!

I’m flying to Europe today.  I am truly excited and have no idea what to expect.  I have been a bit out of touch lately to friends and to the music “scene,” but been working hard and focusing as usual…trying to find and make sure that I’m truly doing my best and doing what God wants me to do.  (And that includes writing Euro-pop!)  My feelings towards a lot of things had recently been like a leaky facet…mostly screwed on tight with just a few drops spouting out every now and again.  Me closing off, holding tight, to not getting hurt or let down. It’s really no way to live.  I want to live wide open – soaking in every single second of breath and life.  I want to break and I want to be full.  That’s what it’s all about.

This trip is a timely one.  I know I’ll come back with a new appreciation for the world, for culture, for people, for Nashville, for music, for relationships, for my blessings, for God.

The world below looks like a miniature playhouse.  The streets are tiny, lakes look like puddles, cars like toys, the buildings look like legos…  I feel like a giant, a bird. My heart is full.  Full of thanks, contentment in the moment, excitement and anticipation of what’s to come.  I FEEL all of that. And as I look down, I know and I feel it - I literally am on top of the world.