Talent:

"Your cold mornings are filled with the heartache about the fact that although we are not at ease in this world, it is all we have, that it is ours but that it is full of strife, so that all we can call our own is strife; but even that is better than nothing, isn't it? And as you split frost-laced wood with numb hands, rejoice that your uncertainty is God's will and His grace toward you and that that is beautiful, and part of a greater certainty...
And as the axe bites into the wood, be comforted by the fact that the ache in your heart means that you are still alive, still human, and open to the beauty of the world, even though you have done nothing to deserve it. And when you resent the ache in your heart, remember: You will be dead and buried soon enough."

 -Paul Harding, "Tinkers"

Let's Talk About "The Goonies"...

 and how my life will not be complete until I visit Astoria, Oregon.

For the full, intended effect, please now imagine the steadily-increasing chime of angel song. 

     Astoria is, of course, the famous hometown of Steven Spielburg's l e g e n d a r y cult-classic,

     (dramatic pause)

      "The Goonies" - my favorite product of 1985 =]. (Oh, you can go ahead and silence those angels...)


     As anyone who knows me well would tell you, I am a great, big, humongous movie-buff(...or geek, I guess some might say). 
     "The Goonies" is probably my first  favorite movie, and as a significant part of the magic soil from which the prodigious Goonie-tree bloomed,  A s t o r i a  is place I have always dreamed of visiting.
     ...It is also where the week-long extravaganza called "Never Say Die: The Goonies  2 5 t h (That's twenty-one-two-three-four-FIFTH!) Anniversary Celebration" , I am sad to say, recently happened without me...*sigh* .

     But, no worries; someday I, Jessica Meneghin, will  take a full-on trip to Astoria, Oregon. As a life-long Goonie-fanatic, I even sometimes think of it as something without which I may never truly whole...

     Evidently, I am not the only person to whom this is important either! Just look at all these pictures of Goonie-tourists I found---->

  (...even the photo is exciting, right?)

Look! This guy is at Mikey's house! Ahh!

Aaaand here, we've got

 

...a girl in front of Mikey's house. 

It's a popular spot, isn't it?

Right. Well, next stop...

 

     Okayy. So, I'm saying "the Walsh House" is definitely the place to see for most people.
 

     ...You say you don't believe me? You say you need some convincin'? Okay, [Shout out to "Scooby Doo Meets the Boo Brothers" --- "Shrieko...da demonstrator." Hehe...] just getaloadofffff

T  H  I  S:

And  T H I S:

And  T H E S E:

See? And look at these:

 This, here, is the actual jail from which Jake Fratelli (with the help of his mother and brother) escapes:

(Today, the building is home to the Oregon Film Museum.)

     Of course, I may as well just can the whole idea, if...I. can't. see. this:

 Yowza. Now that is a view fit for fantasies. Unreal.

     I'm telling you: visiting this place is more than a must for me.

     ...I wonder how long it takes to drive to Oregon from where I live?
     (Hang on just one second - you won't even notice I'm gone ;-) )

     Okay, according to MapQuest, it should take me just over three days. No big deal. (Haha.)
     ...Really, three days is kind of perfect for a road trip...but I'm thinking I would absolutely have to plan some stops along the way; three days is, after all, a very long time to spend in the car.

     But, regardless...I am going. I'm convinced.
     Another thing I know is that, when I do go, I am going to try like heck to make sure the trip falls on, or around June 7th - the day designated (as of June 7, 2010) to be Astoria's own

     G   O   O  N  I  E  S   D  A  Y  !  

     [Elsewhere, I expect Goonies Day to be celebrated on its usual date of October 26th, so those of you who aren't planning on making the journey to Oregon are not to worry =].]

     Unfortunately, I can't be positive these pilgrimage-type plans will be solidified in time for the big day this next summer...but I can get for realz-for realz about it and do my best to start the ball a'rolling! So far...my plan is to keep telling myself that I will go...that I am going...and that I may just die otherwise.

     I realize the plan still needs a some shaping.

     *Thoughtfully rubs chin - considering, for the first time, her recently-allotted week of paid vacation*

Congratulate Me.

     

     Lol. Just kidding - not about that.

     About me becoming a co-manager at Ventures (we'll continue to call it, I think), where I work.

     It's not exactly my dream job, I must say, and I did have to put my education on a more-extended hold to accept the promotion, but I did it for the following reasons:

• Although retail is extremely stressful and is not, as I mentioned, my dream job, I am good at it. Really good, if I do say so, myself, and since no one else is knocking down my door with better opportunity, I figure I have to accept my chances as they're offered to me. Ventures has been good to me, and I think this job is worth giving a shot.
• Secondly, I am having a hard time making ends meet, only receiving a part-timer's paycheck, and even though Dan and I are thankful the apartment-type space we have at my parents', we are not exactly out of our minds with joy about having to stay there. Also, my family might be moving, themselves, so we (Dan and I) have been thinking for some time that it would be best for us to start planning for another place of our own. That means at least one us has to get a full-time job - if it has to be me, it has to be me.
• Thirdly, I recently changed my major for the third (or is it the fourth...?) time, and I am really starting to think that I am flat-out unsure about all future-related things but two: that I want to be married with a family, and that I want to write. Both of those things I can do with career at Ventures, and until I can make longer-lasting, more satisfying goals for myself...I think am cool with this.

     As always, I will not pretend to know what the future holds for me. I just do the best I can with what I've got, pray for guidance, and try to stay positive...but here's hoping, right?