Last Day at Work

It's now Friday afternoon and my last full day at work. It's been a busy week getting my lists of tasks done. I marked the last item off after lunch and it is a huge relief to know that everything will be taken care of in my absence. I am incredibly blessed to work with such a great group of people. They have been supportive and enthusiastic about my voyage right from the beginning even though it meant extra work for them. It is greatly appreciated and means that I can leave next week with no worries.

The staff of the Brown Library gave me a going away party on Tuesday. It was great! There were two huge tubs of ice cream and all of the toppings a person could ask for. Heaven. They had also put together a gift basket of all sorts of fun and useful things that I will be needing for the trip: travel size games, laundry products, cleaners (for glasses, hands, clothes, etc), toiletries, band aids (with pirates on them), music, magnets for my walls to pin posters up (the walls are metal), and so many other items. It was such a thoughtful and generous thing to do! I was really touched by their efforts.

This weekend will be devoted to finishing the long list of tasks that I have for my house. There is much cleaning to do - which will definitely put be in a cranky mood since that is one of my least favorite chores. I also need to do some yard work to make sure that everything is in order and won't do worrisome things while I'm gone - also a cranky-mood generator. I'm thinking that I should probably avoid people this weekend : ) On a more positive note, I started packing this week and am optimistic that I will have room to spare in my duffel bags. All the months of obsessive list making are paying off. Right now it looks like a bomb has detonated in my house with piles of clothes, supplies and papers everywhere. Not a pretty sight.

I visited my sister and her family last weekend. They live only two hours away from my house so I get to see them quite frequently. It was really difficult to say goodbye to them when I left. There was a big ol' lump in the throat as I drove out of their neighborhood. That's the one part of this adventure that isn't fun - saying goodbye to people. It stinks! I know it isn't a permanent goodbye but I still don't like it. I'll give my parents and brother a call this weekend and see if I can give the tear ducts a good cleaning.