Im leaving my home for how long????

Today’s the day! In a matter of hours we will be on the airplane headed to Fort Lauderdale to catch our ship.  To say I’m flooded with mixed feelings would be an understatement.  Excitement, Joy, Fear, Trepidation ,Love, Relief,….every emotion hitting me at once! I have left my home for days or weeks at a time, in fact,I’ve made it 6 weeks recently while at the olive harvest in NorCal but for some reason the idea that I will be parted from my home for five and a half months seems unimaginable to me. And yet, here I am…standing in my yard saying goodbye to every rock and cactus!

I wont be seeing this guy for awhile and already I’m missing him! 

We have spent the last few days making the final checklists, informing neighbors of our plans,getting all services finalized and trying to fit in spontaneous family gatherings.  It has all been a blur of activity. If this journal seems disconnected there’s a good reason for it…I AM! Two years of planning and fantasizing about things I’ll see and do have led up to this moment and in a few brief seconds I will find myself traipsing through security, endless lines with strangers (me in my mask) and with the magic of air travel be whisked away across the country to Fort Lauderdale, FL . 

Our travel coins ( gifts from Bien,Beth,Bowie,Ferris & Finley) to remind us of home and family.

Traveling from Tucson International Airport via Delta was painless and easy.  One of the perks of this voyage is the first class airfare. During the flight, Al leaned over to me and whispered” I could get used to this” No Kidding! The wide seats and extra leg room is fantastic and the service was nice. Our layover in Atlanta wasn’t really a layover, more like a sprint to the finish line… but we made our next flight and soon were looking at the lights of Fort Lauderdale. A quick taxi ride got us to our hotel.

As it was 10:30 at night my photo skills were mediocre at best, but you get the idea. Its been a long day where we have gone from dry 50’s temps to a wonderful 70 degrees. (Okay, remember I’m from the desert and 50 has been cold to me) Anyway, we are here and today will check out the sights to see, rest up and get ready to meet our friends when they fly in this afternoon.