The Long Drive Home

After 16 hours of driving on Thursday, I arrived in Albuquerque where I was lucky enough to have the time to spend several days with Jenn, Brendan, and Chase. Remembering his dear "auntie," Chase took to using me as a chair whenever I was sitting at the table. Only 14 months and already he knows how to get his way ;)

The highlight of our weekend was a visit to the pumpkin patch on Saturday and shamelessly forcing Chase to model in his Halloween costume. Don't worry Buddy, Auntie Gretchen will make sure that your first date sees those pics! I also got to enjoy some of Jenn's fine cooking, which considering that she could only make grilled cheese in the past, is very exciting.

And having the time to go visit was amazing, even under the circumstances that I have this time. Jenn was with me when I first found out about TFA and listened to me talk through my decision to take it on, offering me support and advice. And now she's listened to me talk through my decision to leave it, with just as much support and love as before. I love her. Not only for her support and friendship, but for the wonderful heart she has for those in her life. I have always said, and continue to say, I feel endlessly blessed to have her as a friend and be able to share all our crazy life adventures, even if it's only occasionally in person right now. We've always been good penpals ;) Oh yeah, and the men in her life, they're pretty cool too.

After a few wonderful days there, I drove another grueling 16 hours to Boise where Jan & Mike, Jenn's parents, graciously put me up for the night. Thankfully so because I've driving all night through Boise to Bend before (on our way home from our summer in Colorado) and it is miserable! AND to top it off, they took me to breakfast and showed me around Boise State and their house. And I felt so happy to be heading back home to the people I love and who love me.

Then it was only another 5 hours or so through Eastern Oregon until I'm finally back in Bend, feeling almost as if I never left. It's amazing how our perceptions of time change. Just 2-3 weeks ago, I was so depressed, really feeling at the bottom. And now I feel okay. I have no idea what I'm going to do, but I feel so much more calm and... resolved?

NEW End of the Year Resolutions (because it's never to late to make new goals and resolutions for the year):
* Celebrate life, the people around me, the places around me
* Find a job to pay the bills, find a job that fulfills me
* Have a lot of fun! Laugh! Love! Exercise! Cook! Play in the snow! Spend time with my family! Make new friends! Visit old friends!
* Set a few more goals... TBD