Calm Before the Storm

Turns out there's no calm when it comes to moving. The more boxes I pack, the more stuff I realize I have to pack, and the more the stress starts to drip from every pore. Mom has been helpful. She found a box for me yesterday, and sometimes she holds the door open for me when I take my 50+ lb. boxes to my car. Haha - I don't mean to downplay her involvement because she certainly asks to help, but the fact is that I've always had to do things for myself, by myself. I've grown to prefer it that way and I think my mom respects that, and I respect her for respecting that.

My car (aka the silver bullet) is up and ready to go. I took it to the absolute best Honda shop in the world, Hondaa King. It's so great to find a place that won't rip you off. I had SO much to replace. Timing belt, tires, engine mount, alignment... and so many little things I needed... fix the fan belt squealing, fix my door because I can hear the air whipping past me ever since I got towed and they broke into my car to disengage the e-brake, fix the bulb in my overhead light. So the Hondaa King (aka Scott, the owner, and his crew) did. No complaints, no hidden charges. And I didn't have to lose an arm or a leg. All legs and arms in tact. Now my door is quiet! And my light works! And my fan belts don't squeal! These little things... they please me to no end. I think I was smiling all the way back from the shop yesterday. My little silver bullet is chomping at the bit to get this show on the road.

So with that, and some very sad and uncomfortable goodbyes, I'll be ready to drive into the sunset, literally. Goodbyes are the worst. And aren't they a bit outdated? I mean back in the day I'd jump into my horse drawn covered wagon and when I said goodbye to a friend I'd mean it. "This could be the end, friend. It'll take me months to get out there and who knows if I'll be back." But today, it's more like "I'll see you soon. Don't say goodbye. Just hop a cheap flight to come visit me, and I'll be back soon enough. So why are we standing here, arms open? I'll see you again." That's at least what I'd like to think. The truth is that I don't know who I'll see again and when. I've said "see you later" to people who I haven't seen in 6 years or more. But to sit on that is pointless.

Life changes. God knows I'm used to dramatic moves. I've probably come to crave tumultuous life changes. But I'd rather seek them out than stand still and let them happen around me. Life will change whether I'm moving or standing still. The only difference is that when I'm moving, when I'm instigating the change, I'm controlling it. To some extent I'm creating it, and I like that I can be in control of my choices and of the way my life might go. If I don't get what I want, then maybe I've made some bad choices - but it's on me, and I tried, and that's as much as I can offer myself.

So here goes.

Wednesday: mom and I drive out to Chicago. We'll arrive on Thursday.
Saturday: I pick up Jeff in Chicago. We start the epic journey south. We pick up Melissa at U of I and continue into Memphis. We'll stay at a sweeeet Hotel, thanks to a great deal on Hotwire.com.

From Memphis - to New Orleans, LA
From New Orleans - to Austin, TX
From Austin - Carlsbad, NM
From Carlsbad - to Tuscon, and Phoenix
From Phoenix - to Los Angeles

And as much as we can in between. I am SO excited.