Post-lanta

Well, I didn't get much of a chance to explore Atlanta this past weekend, not for lack of interest, but because the wedding in question was about an hour north of the city, and as a member o' the wedding party, my time was mostly occupied with family celebrations and logistical odds-and-ends, and the occasional last-minute hunt for a violin bow on a Sunday morning in Georgia. Apart from a quick breakfast on my way back to the airport, I basically didn't see Atlanta proper at all. Which is a shame - the Southeast is an area I really want to road trip (Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston) - but also not even remotely a shame, because being around Dan, Abbey and their friends and family is exactly where I wanted to be. Some meandering thoughts after the jump...

What the trip lacked in geographic exploration, it made up in deep joy. My friend Chris's wedding in Lexington last month helped confirm that I still love, love, love weddings - and more than ever feel the deep significance and joy they represent, and the privilege of being asked to attend. And Dan's did much the same, with even more deep conversations with new friends, heartfelt explorations of love and commitment, and laughter, stupidity, stories, and late-into-the-night connection with just-before-that-moment strangers. Weddings are magical, kiddos, and I'm thrilled to have one more on my horizon this fall.

In fact, this fall has been exhausting and diffuse in all the best ways - out of town just about every other weekend for weddings, conferences, or other adventures, busy at work on the dissertation, and keeping an active social life afoot in Boston - and looks to continue the pattern up til Christmas break. Beside the last of three weddings, I'm also tremendously excited to revisit the Twin Cities for a conference - it's been years since I've been there with the freedom to actually explore the metro area, one of my favorites, and I am eager to get back to it.

So, there may be some updates here on those trips, and attendant music-collages, although I don't expect the blog to kick back into an especially globetrotting gear again until the end of 2016, when I'll be returning to Europe for a little work and a little adventure. Still working out the itinerary, but that's the next big trek on the horizon...

IN THE MEANTIME, here are a couple of bonus Autumn tunes excerpted from a playlist I recently put together. They're seasonal and relaxing and they sound like my heart feels I guess??