two thousand eight

some thoughts.

I really wanted to make a post that summarized the year of 2008, but I am unsure how I can.

I might just try to recall (in a several formats) a few of the highlights:

The great year of oh eight started well and I spent a lot of time with my friends and family having fun and learning and growing and trying new things.
Courtney and I adventured like crazy (not too unusual), but i got to come across a whole year's worth of new things.
It was definitely a year of firsts for me. A lot of interesting little firsts, things like: first time I've been to Asia, done sound for a live show, eaten scorpions, gotten straight A's in school (I've gotten close before!), been put in a straight jacket, been to Texas, been to a college basketball game or a professional football game or a game at petco park, and first time I've cried because of a movie. Just fun stuff like that. I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of them at the moment...

In 2008 I traveled on more airplanes than ever before: I went to and from Davis (Sacramento) in January, in May I went to Texas (via a flight to SanFran and then to San Antonio and then a drive for 5 hours across the edge of the state to South Padre Island and then on the way back a flight to Phoenix and then San Diego... so 4 planes total) with my girl scout troop. (yes, I was in girl scouts, but no, I'm not anymore.)
And then my big trip of the year was obviously China! (Via Los Angeles and Tokyo... and I did fly from LA to SD on the way home... that was a fun little flight in a TINY plane.)
But, well I actually didn't want to talk about China yet, but I have a whole blog about China: morganhasablog.blogspot.com
You should read it if you like reading things that I write... about China...

Anyway, before the summer, I had my spring semester of my freshman year at Grossmont (and Cuyamaca) and I took: Philosophy, Biology, Photography and Audio Production.
At that point I was practically bent on having a quadruple major, and majoring in all of those subjects. This obviously does not seem very feasible, so, for now I'm just majoring in Audio.
While studying philosophy, I read the book Sophie's world, and I think it's incredible and that you should read it if you are in any way interested in philosophy. (see the quote in the previous post about the books you read.)
- My fall semester (after China), consisted of more Audio Production, Motion Picture and Film Analysis, Astronomy, and Music Technology. All of those classes were amazing and I can not really believe it but that semester flew by like none other. I feel like I just blinked and now it's gone... I guess it was a great semester, but I wish it would have taken it's time.

- I checked a few things off of my "to do before I die" list, and one of them was that I met Charlie Peacock!
He has really encouraged me and inspired me (both musically and spiritually) over the years. Meeting him was amazing and we got to talk for a few hours after his show at lestats and after he spoke at NCCC the next night. Thanks again, Charlie.

Another thing off of the list: I went to the Great Wall of China, which was (obviously) pretty great.

- In March I "met" an interesting person named Kenny Becker, and in April we became really, really great friends. It was kind of like magic or something.
Don't ask me how it happened, because I'm still trying to figure it out. Anyway, meeting and getting to know and adventuring with and staying up until 4AM talking about life and God and the universe and everything in between with Kenny has been an unusual and incredible and very significant part of this year.

- I got to do a screening of the new Invisible Children film, "Go" this year, which was great.
And going to Texas over that one three day weekend in May was fun, and around that time I read this really interesting book called God's Debris. It's a thinker. Read it if you want your head to implode.

- I think I struggled with God more this year than any other. I've been a Christan for almost 10 years now and have always had a very strong faith and belief. And it's still very strong, but this year has been more of a struggle. Maybe I'll post about it later. But for now it's all good. God is good anyway, even if I don't always wish to acknowledge it.

- Something that kept me alive and happy and strong over 2008 was of course, music.
I went to a few incredible concerts: Explosions in the Sky, Jon Foreman, Mae and The Honorary Title, Radiohead, The Rocket Summer, Switchfoot (only three times this year), and Sigur Rós (which was one of the best of my life!).
I saw the rocket summer in the spring with my friends courtney and cassandra and staci, and I then saw the rocket summer again in the fall... but this time (miracle of the year right here) a boy came along! Yes it was kenny, and no, he was not bound and gagged or drugged or bribed. He likes the rocket summer. Ha.

It seems to me, looking back, like my year was divided into 3 major sections.
Spring semester, Summer/China, and Fall semester/after China.
The most amazing thing is that at the beginning of 2008, I had no idea that I was going ot go to China! No plans at all! But I was presented the opportunity, and I took it, and before I knew it I was off on the aadventure of a lifetime. It really showed me that God can do anything that he wants. Take it or leave it, it's true.

I guess China was probably the biggest sticky-out thing that happened to me.
And I guess, historically speaking, voting in the November election was also pretty significant.
"Beijing 2008" and "Obama/Biden 2008" are two slogans from this year that will not easily be forgotten.

There were also many more adventures, musics, movies, birthdays, plays (like Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer nights dream), magical moments, books, NCT shows, meetings, classes, debates, and great times this year.
- I want to personally thank my friends for being there for me this year: Athan, Courtney, David, Eric, Evan, Kenny, Matt, Will, Abbey, Becca, Madi, Cassandra, Maya, Heather, Larissa, A-aron, Allie, Gary, and everyone I met and befrended in China.

On the other side of the coin, plenty of lame things happened this year too, like my car broke down a lot.
But probably of one the worst things that happened to me, though, was that my cat ran away.
The last time I saw Zack was in April and I really miss him terribly. He was everything anyone could ever want in a cat. He was my closest friend for almost 8 years, and I never really got a chance to say goodbye to him, which I don't even know how to deal with sometimes.

Zack, I love you and you are missed.

Well, that was my year.

In a lot of jumbled, marginally-coherent, not-chronologically-ordered words.

I just had to get it out, I think.

I we had a good year.

Now lets have another.