You know you've been doing too many kettles when...

...you know the entire "Birth" section of the songbook off my heart
...you know exactly where you can get free food, from who, and at what time of day at each kettle location
...your hands involuntarily move as if they are ringing bells when you hear the k-word
...the ten year-old boys that give money out of their own pockets are your HEROES
...you can't remember any songs you once knew that aren't Christmas carols
...EVERYTHING sounds like bells
...your daily prayers consist of two things 1)that the money comes in 2)that someone brings you a free hot drink today
...the hot dog vendors that work your street corner are your new best friends
...everywhere you go your eyes are looking for that blue pick-up minivan
...you commit to absolutely not sing any kind of Christmas song on your day off, but you just can't do it
...you know people by face at each location
...you become numb to the fact that you possibly have thousands of dollars in change hanging in front of you in a ball on a chain
...losing your voice doesn't just suck, it really sucks
...you invest in your own personal set of jingle bells
...you develop timbrel/bell blisters on your hands
...you can text message and ring bells simultaneously and your are PRO
...all of your daily conversation revolves around who's on what kettle and when
...your hands are stained with the smell of money
...hte thought of NOT wearing double socks and long underwear is absolutley absurd
...your back has never been so sore
...you're convinced the cough yo've developed is from second-hand smoke
...you know how much time it takes for the traffic light to change outside your kettle
...you know where the nearest coffee is to every location
...you know how to get to places you've never been before just because you see the buses that go by on their routes
...every blue minvan that passes by but isn't the pickup van, stinks
...you have enough stories to tell a lifetime!
...no matter how crazy or messed up your life is, you miss it
...you pass the time by thinking up "you know you've been doing kettles too long when..."



That entire list was my month of December.

But, really, there was a lot of good to come from kettles too. I think we all noticed that our session came a lot closer together through the process. Perhaps due to not having classes that make us argue, or maybe just being too exhausted to spend any more energy uselessly debating. Generally when we were all together it was counting money or crashing in Aaron's house, just chilling out. We really needed that. We also understood each other's pain from each day, and it was kind of this communal burden we all shared but it brought us closer together while we were all shouldering it. Through pain, there is gain.

So, looking back on it, it was a really hard, slow month to get through, but there was definitely beauty to come out of it. 1) session getting closer together 2) spending more time at the 'whitehouse' 3) getting to know Pete & Marnie more 4) getting to witness on the street corners and people can't do anything about it but catch glimpses of the gospel 5) someone getting saved! 6) singing practice (i really needed that too) 7) reaching our budget goal in the end 8) i'm sure there is even more that i cannot think of at this moment

Ok, that's it for now. I'm at home in Toronto for the break and as I wash my clothes to try and clean out the stenches they have picked up in the Empress, I find myself missing the downtown eastside even more then I thought I would. Loving being back on the east coast though (what, what! represent! - Go Maple Leafs!)

Holy Christmas to all!

Peace

Megan S