Packed and ready!

Even though our flight isn't for six more days, we are basically packed and ready to go! Why so early, you ask? Two reasons. First, we're so excited we can hardly stand it. Second, we are actually leaving Gainesville a few days early. Tomorrow I am going down to Palm Bay, my hometown, for my friend Sarah's wedding on Friday evening (congratulations, Sarah and Clayton!). My other friend Sarah, who lives in Alabama, is picking me up on her way down, so we can split the absolutely atrocious cost of gas (which, from what I hear, only gets worse in Europe).

The last day of school is tomorrow, so Cary has to work at least until Friday, putting in grades, cleaning up his classroom, etc. He won't be able to make it to the wedding, but he's thinking about going up to Live Oak Friday night to see his parents before we leave (only an hour from Gainesville), and then driving down to Palm Bay on Saturday. Palm Bay is about an hour closer to the Orlando airport than Gainesville is, so we're just going to stay there until Tuesday and my mom is going to drive us to the airport. And feed our cat while we're gone. And I'm hoping to bring her my begonia to water as well. Mama, if you're reading this, you are an exceptional mom :)

I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with my family. My sister Suzanne is home for the summer, and I think her boyfriend Mike might be coming to visit over the weekend as well. So we can all just hang out and have a good time. Mama and Suzanne and I are going to zumba class on Friday morning, which if you haven't heard is a Latin-dance/aerobics workout class that is definitely not for the faint of heart. You know those signs they post outside of roller coasters - "Expectant mothers or those with heart problems should not ride?" Zumba needs a sign like that.

So today I'm trying to think of all the things I might have forgotten to pack, straighten up the house a little bit so Cary isn't left with a giant mess, do a last load of laundry, and buy a dessert to share with some of our friends tonight. Time seems to be crawling by - after months of just hurtling along towards this trip, I feel like we're just standing still now! Now that graduation is past and I have a job for the fall, ALL my attention is focused on this trip, and all I can think about is why aren't we there now?!? But I think getting on the road tomorrow will help me feel like we're actually moving forward in time again :)

I hope y'all are enjoying reading this blog. I think we're going to enjoy keeping it. Please post comments as you read - we'd love to hear from you while we're away. We'll write again soon!

-Emily

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