Bemidji- Foreward (it's a little messy as all great works in progress are)

Week 1- post-camp. I have finally landed permanently in Bemidji after closing the book on the last chapter of my life in Prinsburg. The cover of this new book is shiny and full of hope and possibility. It's got that new experience smell to it. I like it.

I'm currently sitting at Starbucks on Paul Bunyan Drive (yes, that's the actual name of the street). I don't love the layout. It's way too open and not very comfy like my usual haunt, Caribou. There is a Caribou just up the street, but I thought I would give this a try. Being in this establishment reaffirms to me the knowledge that I am firmly planted in Camp Caribou. Hey, at least I tried.

I kind of like the fact that no one knows me here. I like being anonymous in a new town. The luster of that is going to wear off soon enough, though. My fall schedule isn't too terrible, but it will be busy and once I settle into a routine I will want friends and community- both of which I am terribly afraid I will not find. I can't be running back to Prinsburg or Slayton or Carlton or to the cities every weekend, so community here needs to be a priority at some point. For right now, though, I am content in my anonymity and am grateful for quiet moments to pull my thoughts together, type them out, and get them out of my head.

However, let me sell Bemidji to you because I am going to want visitors. I live in a beautiful community. From the beautiful forests to Lake Bemidji to the Mississippi River and the surrounding state parks, it is a haven for those of you seeking a getaway from the craziness of life in a picturesque setting. This place is ideal for my friends who love fall. It is gorgeous here in the autumn, and I would highly recommend you make a point to come and see the fall colors in all of their spectacular brilliance. We have everything.....lots of trails, coffee shops, places to eat, Walmart, Target...I mean, I live in civilization so we have stuff like electricity, wifi, and working bathrooms. My apartment is adorable, yet small. I can make it work for visitors, though. My landlord is all sorts of accommodating, and there are hotels in the area. No worries, friends, we will figure it out.

Here's to the opening of a new book in a new town and a new life. This was the foreward. As Chapter One begins to unfold, I'll type that out, too. God has that one written already, but I get to discover it with childlike curiosity and wonder as new experiences and new people come across my path. He has a good plan and purpose for me, friends, and I begin the process of discovering what that is. Terrified, frightened, excited, and hopeful all at once. A complete and beautiful mess of emotions all wrapped up in one Lori. A perfectly imperfect work in progress.