Leaving on a jet plane...

It's my last night in Macon. And if I'm being honest, it feels a bit surreal. The reality that this will not be my home 24 hours from now has not sunk in yet. Don't get me wrong, the empty rooms and cabinets remind me that I'm leaving in the morning. I've been so focused on getting packed and out that I have not had much time to really think about what I'm feeling (other than exhaustion and muscle soreness). I do kind of wish that I had just one more day. Well, half a day. I wanted to go visit dad's grave before I left town but ran out of time. Have not been to the cemetery since his funeral. I would have liked to have had lunch with mom before I left. Time went by so fast from the job offer to the flight out. But I do get to see my best friend before I go. She is picking me up to take me to Groome in the morning. And we'll have time to get some breakfast together.

I'm not certain I would even have everything packed and ready to go if it were not a little help from a couple of friends. (They know who they are and have been thanked -- multiple times.) Packing has been so overwhelming for me. To figure out what will go with me, what do I want to keep but not take with me (and will be stored at mom's for now), what to donate and what to throw away. To go through years of stuff. I'm sure I'll look back as I am unpacking in LA and wish I had brought things I took to mom's or thrown away more.

I don't want to think about the fact that there are some people that I will never see again. Maybe they won't be around or available when I come back to visit. Maybe something tragic happens. There are a few that come to mind that I will be really sad if I never see them again. But I accept that I cannot control a lot of things.

I would really love to get cards, letters, etc from you all. I think having a few pen pals sounds fun. Most of you following me here know how to reach me on social media - Facebook, Instagram, etc. Shoot me a DM if you'd like my address to send me things. For those who don't already know, training will be for about 7 weeks == 2 in San Diego (preschool), 3 in Virginia Beach (basic) and 2 more back in San Diego (post school). So it will be June before I am at my place in L.A.

The adventure begins tomorrow.