Pre-Departure

Yesterday, Monday, January 10, I woke up at 6 in order to go to work from 8:30 to noon at my mom's office. Everything involving leaving for Ecuador/Chile had me stressed out and worried, so it was a REALLY GOOD SIGN while driving in to work and I saw a new yellow NY license plate that read "RELAX." I did try my best to do so, but it was later on in the day that I forgot about that sign...

After saying goodbye to just about everyone at my mom's office, I went to get a massage from my aunt who is an excellent massage therapist. I felt so much more at ease...until my mom called me and told me that we needed to fly to NYC ahead of the huge snow storm or else we wouldn't be able to fly there on Wednesday afternoon because of it. All I could say was "shit" and I told my mom I'd call her back...

Later on that night, after having a late lunch date that I had made with a few friends a few days prior, I drove around like a crazy person getting a few last minute things that I was going to get on Tuesday and then drove out to Mitch's to say goodbye to his parents last minute. Following that, I drove back to my house with Mitch in his car and ate dinner at my house with my family one last time then packed my life away. So yesterday was quite hectic.

Now it is Tuesday at 7:53pm and I'm lounging in a hotel bed in NYC with my momma, yay! A tearful 'see you later' to Mitch at the airport (I was tearing up a lot while going through security after we left each other, ha) and I was off. Had a nice and quick flight down here a little after noon today. After flying high out of gray Upstate NY, the bright blue skies and sun were a refreshing break. I saw two airplanes that were flying near ours. It was beautiful. It's not even 8 and it feels like it's been a long day; I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow and....flying to Ecuador! I set my alarm for 6 yesterday morning in order to say goodbye to my dad before he goes to work and at 5:27 I woke up from a dream and couldn't get back to sleep.

In my dream, I was leaving Kansas in order to fly to Ecuador. A friend of mine from high school was in the dream and she was flying with me. She was telling me how much fun I was going to have and how it'll all be okay. I woke up confused, trying to stay in my dream but I went out to the kitchen to spend my last few minutes with my papi.

I'm going to watch "The Patriot" with Momma and enjoy my last few hours with her. I want to thank everyone for your well wishes. I'll see you later in July (the 13th!) and I hope we can all keep in touch!

I love you and miss you all already! Come Thursday, I won't be in Kansas anymore...

Infinite x's and o's,
K