I am departing overseas from DC.  I can't think of a more fitting place to depart from.  After soaking up some quotes from our nation's forefathers, I can continue the journey.

Kels grabbed me from the airport.  There were pine needles in her car too!  and we almost drove off an exit ramp (she doesnt drive anymore). Ran red light. She said it wasn't red. My favorite was getting honked at back because she was honking at people.
A lot of police but a nice neighborhood of row houses.  The first night, we stayed up past 2 am drinking Two hearted ale and looking at old photos.
She has a treehouse apartment that's nice for waking up outside and staring into the trees.  I thought huge hummingbirds buzzed by but one landed nearby and  it wasn't a hummingbird.  They were giant cicadas! 
Kels prepared a healthy looking breakfast of soy latte, oj, peach, toast that morning but we each gained at least 5 lbs during my visit.


We drove down to Virginia to visit my sister Ashley and my nieces Stella and Vera.  And Charlie and the dogs.  I brought him some homebrew and the dogs some treats from Japan.  A lot of rain down there!  But it was fun and my nieces are incredible.  Visit Ashley's blog if you haven't recently.

Kels and I had a few days in DC.  It was really fun.  Saw the new MLK monument, free lunches from Kels (thanks!), and good scene.  Got to have dinner with my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Terry and Sarah.  Aunt Nancy made cherry pie!  And it was cool to throw some beers back with Clint before I took off.





Thanks Kelsey for hosting me and everything in helping me get ready for the trip!

Leaving the Heartland

And here I goes. 

My Dad took me to the airport on "one of the most beautiful drives". It was fine. Chester was happy even though I left him. That's good. It was very nice of Ann to come up and say bye.  She helped me inside with my bags and everything. It wasn't until I was through security that everything really hit. A room full of strangers looking at me, me thinking about everything I am leaving and that this is really it. I am moving. Not just a short trip like everyone else. 

I quickly made my way to my mother's plane's gate but the door was shut and plane was leaving. I walked away disappointed and not wanting to be around all these people watching preseason MNF and all the usual impersonal traveling attitudes. I walked to a quiet window and stood looking out at the sunset. My Mom appeared! It was great.

In the air, I remember it was an eerily beautiful evening with an orange glow low on ground and continuous blue clouds higher. Could just make out the ground.  A nice time for leaving.
Many emotions- no reason to be sad, but hard to be super excited. Just something I want to do. That's how I would describe it. I've known for a long time that this would come. And I tried not to think about it too much. I really am going in blind.

And like Christoph the planner says, you can prepare but there's no way to be prepared. I did all I could or most of what I wanted to do. Had some great times. The last few years were some of the best and worst of my life. I will miss everyone for sure.  

But I look forward to seeing my sisters now. And my nieces will bring smiles. And hopes.

I told both my parents in the last few minutes of seeing them that I felt packing prepared but not mentally for language and work and all the differences that I am now. Oh well. Meaning all is well. I will figure it out.  At some point I will become very motivated to go there and try hard in all aspects of life Amory Blaine would deem important and some he wouldn't.  For now though I will chill and enjoy the ride to our Nation's Capital.