4/3/15
I’m doing it! I am on the plane. I
have officially begun the journey that is the next phase of my life.
Two hours ago I said a tear-filled
goodbye to my puppy (I probably have an unhealthy attachment to my dog). I rode
to the airport, said goodbye to my mom and went through security.
Upon learning that there would be
no inflight movie due to an internet malfunction, I immediately decided it was
time to start writing. If writing can’t calm my fear of flying I doubt anything
else could. So here goes.
The last 3 weeks has gone by so
fast I’ve barely known what was happening. The minute I bought my ticket life
became automatic chaos. I spent days researching, trying on, and ordering the
stuff I would need for my trip. Since I don’t know how long I am going to be
gone, where I am going, or what I will be doing, that meant buying a lot of
stuff! I’m pretty sure the whole local REI staff knows who I am.
I rushed to visit every friend and
family member I could get to. I spent much more time hanging out with friends
than I had in months. I cooked all of my favorite meals. If I wasn’t cooking, I
was going to all of the restaurants I had talked about going to for months. I
made fantastic life decisions that I am beyond proud of. I made terrible life
decisions that I never want to think about again. I went to my cousin’s wedding.
I spent time with family. I drank more and stayed out later than I have since I
was 21. I worked 6 days a week trying to save money. I had 2 going away parties
in 2 days in 2 different cities (my friends & family are awesome). I have
never felt so loved.
Unfortunately I got more stressed
than I planned on. The emotional roller coaster I have been on has been like
something out of a T Swift song. I go from excited, to scared, to sad to be
saying goodbye to friends, and then back to excited all in a matter of minutes.
I stopped sleeping and I barely ate. I was going to the gym to try to burn
energy but that didn’t really help.
Yesterday I started packing
(because who needs to pack ahead of time). I quickly realized there was no way
all of my stuff would fit in my 55L backpack. I knew it was small when I chose
it, but I am a petite person and I refuse to be weighed down by a bag that is
too large for me to carry. I started pulling out everything that I thought I
might not use. With a little help from my mom, and a lot of self-control I
finally made everything fit.
On my first international trip (I
was 14) I insisted my mom buy me this hedgehog figurine. That figure has been
in a box for years. My mom suggested I bring him with me so I can have my own
“traveling gnome” if you will. We decided to name him Happy the Hedgehog and
his adventures will probably be more documented than mine.
On this first flight I am
surrounded by children and families. The energy and excitement of the little
ones has me even more excited than I realized I would be. When I land in
Houston I will meet my mom’s boyfriend for dinner. Thank God my 14 hour layover
happened to be in the same city my mom’s boyfriend lives in. It means I won’t
have to sleep in an airport terminal just yet.
I feel so blessed to be able to
have this experience. I understand that this adventure will be something I
remember for the rest of my life. I am not going to take any of it for granted.
I will live every day to its fullest. I
am so excited to see where this journey leads and I can’t wait to share more. I
am sure I will write more when I am actually on my way to CR.
Until then, here is a picture of me leaving:
Love you!
Al
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