Time travel.

I'm convinced the closest thing we have (and perhaps will ever have) to time travel is music. In seconds, a song can take you back years. There are other things that trigger memories -- sights and smells and such -- but music has this rare ability to transport you back to a particular moment (or even particular people) from your past. 

It might be purely accidental. A song comes on the radio, one you haven't even thought of in ages, and all of the sudden you find yourself back in your hometown, riding in the bed of someone's pickup a couple days after your high school graduation, feeling that this night is somehow incredibly significant -- that soon, people will move and things will change, and that you should try to take it all in because someday in the distant future, you'll want to remember how things were.

And for those three minutes and thirty-four seconds, you do remember. And quite clearly.

Or maybe it's purposeful. You're missing your best friends, so you put on that CD you always used to play in the car when you made your weekly run to Sonic for happy hour, and the memories come flooding back and you can't help but smile as you sing along.

Regardless of how it happens, it happens. And it's a wonderful and incredible thing.

I put this on, for example, and it's suddenly 2006, and I'm getting the longest hug of my life, because we both know that as soon as we let go, one of us will be moving far far away.

  

And this will forever remind me of the summer of 2008 and asking if Penland was open and whether or not we should just go play volleyball at the SLC and order pizza.

 
  

This one (forgive me) makes me laugh, transported back to my graduation from Baylor, and how "the party don't start till I walk in" played as we pulled up to the ceremony.  

 

This makes me think of winter in Illinois -- watching the white slowly pile up against our window while we stayed inside and baked our way through the Snowpocalypse.

 

And this makes me think of dancing spontaneously in the kitchen, but only during the chorus, because once the verse hit we went back to nonchalantly tending to the pots on the stove.

There are so, so many more. And more often than not, they catch me by surprise. Not only that I remember all the words (which, by the way, how is that even possible?) but also how an event that hasn't crossed my mind in years is instantly brought to the forefront, crystal clear, with all the accompanying emotions. It's an incredible thing.

What songs take you back?

 

There's no place like home[coming].

I'm sitting at work, smiling maniacally and buzzing like I just drank a lot of coffee. But I haven't had any coffee at all. This, my friends, is what you call a natural high.

 

I'm just so excited to be heading to Texas tomorrow! Why am I going, you ask? Because of this:

 

That's right. I get to go to Baylor Homecoming this year! 

Here's what I'm most excited about:

 

Driving -- I say this all the time, but I can't tell you how much I miss it. A car gives you so much freedom. Plus, where else am I supposed to sing loudly without fear of embarrassment?

 

Christmas -- But it's barely Halloween, you say? Well when you're not going home for the holidays, Christmas comes early for the ones you love. I've been planning, and I'm really excited to make people feel loved and special with an assortment of British goodies.

 

Football -- (American style.) When I was at Baylor, I never missed a home game. I've watched online, but it's been two years since I've actually been to a game. I can't wait.

 

Campus -- Apparently, a lot has changed around my alma mater. Still, I'm sure it will still feel like home. I'm excited to grab a cowboy coffee and walk the Bear Trail like old times.

 

Sunshine -- I've checked the forecast, and it's supposed to get into the mid 80s (that's 30 degrees for all you silly Celsius users). I haven't been that warm since my visit to Italy last June. To give you some perspective, our highs for London are expected to be 50 and below this week. God bless Texas and it's complete lack of regard for fall...even in November.

 

Food -- I've already made a list of all the restaurants that I absolutely must visit. Judging by what I've got down so far, it's possible that I could spend my entire trip eating. But that's a risk I'm willing to take.

 

Target -- I don't even need to buy anything. I just need to go. Don't judge.

 

And of course, friends and family -- To me, that's what Baylor Homecoming is all about. In fact, when my friends and I were interviewed at Baylor a few years ago by some local news crew, that's the answer I gave. That's also the answer Alexis gave, immediately following mine (I think she panicked). So the camera panned across our group as we listed off our favorite things about Homecoming, and it ended up sounding like this: "Football. Pigskin. Friends and family. Friends and...family." It was hilariously awful. I'm pretty sure we never ended up on TV.

 

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The point is, I can't wait to get on that plane tomorrow. I absolutely love living in London. It's such a fun city, and I've met some incredible people who mean the world to me.

See what I mean? Lovely, wonderful people.

But there's just something about going home that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. So all you lovely Texas people, get ready. I'm headed your way.
 
And I can't wait to hug you.

  

Many the miles.

In the last five days, I've covered almost 7,000 miles. From London to DC to Albuquerque. From Albuquerque to home. From home to Waco, and back. And (weather permitting) we'll be headed north this afternoon.

My flight home was exhausting. I left London around noon on Sunday, and after almost 18 hours of travel, I arrived in Albuquerque at around 11pm the same day. Time zones are crazy.

By the time I landed, I'd been awake for 24 hours. I'm no good at sleeping on planes, and screaming children don't really help. And I absolutely love kids, but having six within three rows of me on my transatlantic flight made me really grateful for headphones. On the way to Albuquerque, I sat by the most complainy (is that a word?) lady ever. And she wiped everything down with an antiseptic wipe before take-off.

 
We got up early the next morning, and after a really good breakfast burrito (my first in ages...hallelujah!), we braved the blizzard and drove the 270ish miles home.

Then it was on to Texas, where I got to spend a couple of days with some of my favorite people in the world. I haven't cried that much in months...and it was all because I was laughing so hard pretty much the entire time. My poor abs. Worth it.

And now, here I am at home, waiting to see if the interstate is going to be open or if we're gonna have to wait till tomorrow to go to grandpa's. But as difficult as it makes traveling, the snow sure is pretty.

So I'm not complaining.

Wednesday randoms.

I hadn't initially planned on going home for Christmas. But now I've got a ticket, and I'm headed back to 'merica on Sunday! So this set of randoms will give you an idea of what I'm most excited for.

In no particular order:

Driving! Oh my gosh, how I've missed driving. It's been over three months since I've been behind the wheel. I can't wait to climb in my car and just go somewhere. And I'll have plenty of opportunity, considering I'm driving to and from Texas (about 16 hours roundtrip) while I'm home. Speaking of...

Texas! I'm not from there, but the Lone Star State treated me pretty well during the four years I lived there. I'm just sad it's not bluebonnet season. Oh well, at least there's Blue Bell ice cream and...

Baylor! I can't wait to be back on campus. It feels like home. Plus, they've done a lot of remodeling since I last visited, and I can't wait to see it. I'm going to get a Cowboy Coffee from Common Grounds and walk the Bear Trail with my...

Soul friends! Well, two of them, at least. I can't even tell you how excited this makes me. These girls are the funniest people in the world, and I've been missing them like crazy. I haven't seen Kim since she left for Namibia last summer (she came back around the time I moved), and even though I got to see Alexis right before leaving for the UK, it's been three months. And three months is way too long. And, come to think of it, I don't think the three of us have gotten together since Alexis' wedding last June. Bring on the reunion. Speaking of reunions...

Family! I love my family. My mom came over here in September to help move me in, and my dad was here last month, but I still miss them. And I haven't seen my brother since August, which is weird. Plus, Christmas for my family means getting to see a whole lot of people. We typically have a full house, and there's always so many delicious things to eat. Which brings me to...

Mexican food! Obviously, England is not exactly known for Mexican food, so I wasn't expecting much, but I just haven't found any here. (Surprisingly, there was a pretty good place in Wales, but it still wasn't quite the same.) I can't wait for carne adovada, chips and salsa, tortillas, refried beans, and guacamole...Tomasita's here I come!

And finally, the scenery! I miss stars and sunsets and wide open spaces (cue Dixie Chicks...), and I can't wait to be back home in the fair state of New Mexico.

In case you can't tell, I'm really excited. And while I've always loved it, this song has never meant so much to me: