varying degrees of light

A year ago, I wrote about a border patrol guy asking Paul, Christina, and I where we were all from and, after we answered, what we were all doing together. While I want to keep from exploring this topic very much further for danger of giving away the working draft of my toast for their wedding (What a strange journey it's been for us and all that...), I've been gauging the dependent levels of excitement and anxiety. Both skyrocket at such times and here's another: Paul's bratty little sister greeted me with a smirk and, "Don't you live in Iowa?" (Translation: I'm sixteen and I was born in Los Angeles.) I responded to this with no pride. "Actually, I don't anymore."

There's not a lot to say that can be better said than this: AUGH!