Date: 2014-06-03
From: Chesapeake, VA

To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

The resounding answer is "YES!" I leave in 48 hours for the adventure of a lifetime. Tomorrow will be my last chance to get everything done that needs doing. Prioritization of tasks is essential. Luckily I have a very supportive mother who took the day off of work just to be at my disposal and squeeze in more face time before I take off. Thanks Momma! I have a disturbingly long to-do list that will need to be tackled before I will feel comfortable putting the day to rest. I had a fabulous time in Florida. I got slightly lost on the way to my sister's new place in Ponte Vedra and somehow ended up in one of the sleazier parts of Jacksonville surrounded by strip clubs and adults only motels. Lots of them. My sister was kind enough to guide me through on the phone and get me to her home in one piece. I'm slightly directionally impaired. This has been on on-going problem for years. Naturally, this is of some concern while I'm out hiking but hopefully won't go too far in the wrong direction before I realize it and turn around! Ponte Vedra gave me some quality time with my sister, Tara, as well as her husband, Alex, and my niece, Lauren. We visited the zoo, ate sushi, splashed at their neighborhood water park, read lots of Barbie and fairy books, taught Lauren to play Racko, and most importantly watched Disney's Frozen! It was my first time ever seeing the movie, which of course was totally unacceptable. Lauren knows the whole thing by heart and took great delight in singing as well as acting out multiple scenes for me. She has quite a flare for the dramatic! While there I also got to visit with my always smiling Aunt Gerri. That was a real treat. It had been several years since the last time we were in the same place. I could have stayed up all night talking with her if we both hadn't had places to go the next day. Then onward to Tallahassee/Crawfordville to see my bff, Jenn. That was a definitely overdue trip. You know it has been too long between visits when the kids in the house don't remember you at all. A mistake I intend to remedy in future! Jenn and I took a tour of campus and our old stomping grounds. It brought back a lot of great memories from college but made my jaw drop to see how much FSU has expanded. I always feel right at home at Jenn's and completely welcomed. Grilling the fresh fish her husband had caught earlier in the day for dinner and watching the kids practice popping wheelies in the yard is my idea of a good time. Next was the highlight of the whole trip! Thursday I headed to Apalachicola. Stefan graduated high school! He looked so grown up in his cap and gown. I just about burst with pride watching him get his diploma. It was very exciting to see all the years of schooling come together. Stefan, you should feel a huge sense of accomplishment! Good job and congratulations! I love you sooo much. The following day was a big party on St. George Island. We spent most of the day either decorating, cooking or setting up for the affair. At times I wasn't sure it would all get pulled off but in the end it all came together and was a lovely time. In two more years I'll get to repeat the fun when Stacie's other two boys graduate as well. Time is flying by. I still think of them as little boys, but they are swiftly turning into young men. Saturday I swung back through Crawfordville and got the chance to see Jenn's boys riding their dirt bikes. That's right. Jenn's 8 and 4 year old sons are out tearing up the track on their dirt bikes. Coolest kids ever! Both moved up that day to bigger bikes. No more training wheels for Jayce! He can keep up with Jed now on a big boy bike. Sunday I started heading home but stopped to overnight in Jacksonville with my Uncle Keith. We had a lovely visit and a chance to really catch up. That is another place that I always feel completely welcomed. Being in his home brought back fond memories of visiting there each summer as a child. Even certain smells evoked images in my mind from previous visits. That is a happy place for me. I drove hard on Monday to make sure to get back to Norfolk in time to see my sister, Ashley, one last time before I hit the trail. She had to leave the next morning for Boston so this would be the last chance I had to tell her how much I love her and will miss her. Ashley is more than just my sister. She is also a best friend. We had our fair share of fights over the years as children but life without her would be completely unbearable now. I had a hard time leaving her house that night. I didn't want to let her go and was a blubbery mess. I could hardly see straight from all the tears as I drove home. Tonight was my last life group for the season and until I get back. Wes cooked Indian food, my absolute favorite, just for me! So many people came out! We really had a packed house and about ran out of places for people to sit. Group has been such a blessing in my life for the past two years. I am so happy to have made such good friends there and to have been a part of it. When I get back I'll be in serious withdrawal. I'm just hoping that the prayer warriors in yplg will keep me in their nightly rotation. I'll need all the prayers I can get! Now to bed so I'll have the energy tomorrow to get everything done that needs doing!