(No) Unconscious, but Awake

I have been thinking, thinking an awful lot. Well, it's not an awful lot. It's been good stuff, not awful. So, I have been thinking a good bit. There, that's more positive.

I'm in Ocean City right now for the Delaware-Maryland Synod Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I have been participating in this event for the past two or three years. I think three. I really like all of the discussion that goes on. I'm not sure how many people are present, but there might be around four hundred, or maybe more. There are ballots on different topics, resolutions on various subjects. There can be amendments to the constitution or adjustments to the agenda. There are microphones set up (two for "in favor of" and two for "against") in the aisles between the rows of seating.

The particular resolution to be voted on dealt with youth/young adults attending the Assembly. It called for an additional voting member to participate in going to the Assembly. There was a motion made to take the resolution back to be reviewed by the committee. Then, the discussion started. There were people in favor of it being reviewed but against the resolution itself, people against the committee but for the resolution, and every other possibility. It's a good thing the air was blasting in the room, because discussion got heated very quickly. At least twenty people got up to speak their opinion into the microphone. Discussion on whether or not it should go back to committee lasted for about fifteen minutes. It was cut off by a "call to question" motion, which calls for a vote to decide whether debate should keep going or not. The results were to stop debate.

Then, there was debate on the actual resolution itself. People against it, were mostly reluctant to go against it because youth/young adult participation is almost nonexistent. I would say the average age in the room was around 50. The Bishop had informed us earlier that there were just thirty five people under thirty five. They had all those who were under that age stand up to be recognized. It felt great. Anyway, the people who were against the resolution were all older people. The people in favor of it were mostly younger, but there were a few older ones as well. Throughout another fifteen to twenty minutes there was heated debate on the resolution. That's the part that I enjoy. Older people were questioning where the young people were. I was right there. I almost got up to speak, but another "call to question" was called. I was a little disappointed at myself for not speaking, but it was fine. The debate was halted and the vote on the resolution itself now occurred. Fortunately, it passed by a margin. It wasn't a great margin, but it did win. I was happy with that.

On a lighter note, we walked on the boardwalk on Wednesday. Our hotel is located at the very end of the boardwalk, just one street away from the final twenty seventh street. The whole boardwalk is two and a half miles long. We walked all the way up and all the way back. That is a total of five miles walked. On the way up, I wanted to stop at The Kite Loft. I didn't really find anything that I wanted, but I found a cool sled kite with a jolly roger on it. It was seven dollars, so I got it. (Thank you, mom.) We walked the rest of the way up, then just a little past all the way up, we stopped to fly the kite. It was a perfect day for kites, nice and windy. As soon as I let the kite go with a little bit of line, it took off. I stood there and let the line go for a while, not all the way out, but a good length of it. Feelings of child-like emotion rushed through me and I felt very light, as light as the kite.

Later on the way back, we stopped for some food. We saw a sign for fried Oreos. I was skeptical at the idea of this, but my mom persuaded me to try them. The first bite was incredible, and it got better as it went on. They were so delicious. I love Oreos anyway, so why not deep fry them? To be honest, if I had a deep fryer, I would be putting all kinds of food in there. It's probably for the better that I don't own one, for health's sake.

As you might be able to tell, I am typing this. I'm really here. I'm going to start blogging again, and of course I will continue with poems and songs and writing in general. Yesterday, I'm not sure if I was tired or what, but I felt like I was unconscious. However, I was awake. It is the strangest feeling I have ever experienced, but it was a good one. I was just floating there. That's where the latter part of the title comes in. The "No" part, obviously, is an answer to my last post.

I suppose I should end this post now. I'm sitting on the side of the room, semi-listening to the people on stage talk. Thank you and have a great day.

Is it the End?

Good day, everyone:

I am writing this letter to inform you that I may or may not be posting anymore. I have been using my observations to write poems and songs (songs still with no guitar) lately. I consider what I have written to be somewhat successful and hope to publish a collection of poems, songs, etc. sometime in my life, once I have written an amount worthy for a book. I would like to thank all those who have supported me with this endeavor and to those who will keep supporting me.

Sincerely,

Marc