Rivendell / la casa de mi hermana

I’m in transition; I’ve come home from my Japan, English teaching life and I’m getting ready for my New York City, voice acting/other creative ventures life. I’m putting together myself using the pre-Japan pieces and the new parts I picked up in the Far East. This is honestly a resting time, a reflecting time, and a time to spend with my family and friends who I was away from for so long.

I couldn’t ask for a better place to do this than my sister’s home in North Carolina. Julie and her husband live in a beautiful, comfortable house filled with entertainment and good food. Their TV—which is the size of my old car—complete with a Wii and expansive game library ensure I’m never bored. I sleep in a big nice bed, get tasty meals, and just enjoy a relaxed life here. It’s wonderful.

All this reminds me of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Rivendell—the elven stronghold and rest stop in both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Tolkien wrote exciting stories filled with dangerous and horrible places (goblin-filled mountain caves, spider-invested forests) but he also gave the characters, and the reader, resting points along the way where safety and comfort were found. These points in their journey were times to renew their physical and emotion strength and also prepare them for the trials ahead. Rivendell is an enchanted outpost for the immortal Elves and thus is a place for songs, feasts, and safety. Every morning when I wake up at Julie’s house, I feel like I’m in Rivendell.

When I look at my life, I see a lot of good memories and success from Japan…and I also see a lot of potential and excitement from a future in NYC. But I’m not sure how those two parts fit together…because right now I really don’t know how to get to New York City, or how to get a job there, or anything! I’m like Frodo saying, “I’ll go to Mordor, but I don’t know the way…so Elrond, could you please let me crash at yours until I get my fellowship together?”

Haha, I love LOTR. Anyway, I think you understand what I’m trying to say. The point is: THANK YOU Julie and Paul for letting me stay here! After being away for so long, I’m so happy to have this time together.