Almost Go Time!

The time is creeping up on me. I can hardly believe it, really. This past week has been especially hard with my emotions, nerves and anxiety running at far above their regular pace. There have been several more of those heartbreakingly hard goodbyes I wrote about in my last post however talking about them now seems a little too soon. I’ve been frantically wrapping up projects with work and fitting in visits with as many friends as possible…and of course, spending time with my family. My mother, the perpetual free spirit, has been super helpful distracting my wandering thoughts by making sure I stayed busy and moving, never letting me sit silently for too long. My father, the man whose heart is as big as the state of Texas, has gently let me mope around a bit, stopping me in my tracks occasionally to tell me everything is going to be OK and doing something to make me laugh. He worries about me an awful lot and has a very hard time watching me leave. Don’t worry, Pop, I’ll be ok. You once told me that I was the strongest person you know and I fully intend to maintain that title! My mother, on the other hand, has zero issue with my going off to another country. She’s all for it! I’ll make you proud, mom, and when you come to visit, I’ll be sure to show you around all the neat little spots I’ve discovered. Oh, and please take good care of Fat Randy (my incredibly fat but sweet kitty) for me. She needs lots of attention, especially in the mornings!

I’m now starting the final leg of my journey here in Florida. I’m headed down to Coral Springs to spend a little time with one of my dearest friends; my roommate from college, actually. I’m sure we’ll have lots of laughs before it’s time to bid farewell to her and her hubby. Then I must gather my three suitcases and my computer equipment and drag it through Miami International Airport. Oh, what fun!!!! Fortunately my mom and aunt are driving down to help me get everything unloaded with the Skycap. Then I’m off!!!

I know it’s only three months…12 weeks…90 days…and I’ll be back in the United States before I know it but I want to take a minute to thank all my friends and family for their support. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t at least a little bit scared and your support and encouragement has made all the difference. It’s not a long time but it’s long enough and it’s far enough to know that I’ll be coming home a changed person. To all the people in my life who I am sad to leave, thank you for allowing me to go without guilt. Thank you for supporting my need for adventure and reminding me almost daily that everything happens for a reason, that what is meant to be will always find a way, that the timing of such things is never wrong, that living a dream is never a bad choice, that learning to let go holds the power to change your outlook on just about anything, and that I’m stronger than anything that might stand in my way. That’s not to say I’m not still a completely neurotic control freak (I mean, seriously, y’all know I can’t change THAT! I haven’t gone completely mad.) Just that I’m raising my sails to let the winds of life direct my course and trusting that everything will end up exactly as it should….wherever, however or whenever that might be.