Growing Instead of Shrinking

I've had months to prepare, now the countdown is at three days, and somehow things just aren't done for this trip yet. I can't figure out what clothes and shoes to take, so of course I'm still not packed, and I have a To Do list that keeps growing instead of shrinking.

Back from Chicago late last night, I headed off to the golf course with new friends this morning, stopped at the bank, picked up groceries, baked brownies and made black bean salsa for Relay for Life tomorrow, sent e-mails, talked on the phone (okay a lot!), got the car washed, took potted flowering plants to my neighbor's patio for easier watering while I'm gone, drove house plants to another friend for safe keeping, visited and had a glass of wine. And so forth.

Yet as long as I keep growing myself instead of shrinking away like I was afraid of a few months ago, then who cares about that silly list!? And I know when I get on that plane in a few days it will all be done.

New Perspectives

We rolled the top back on our white Sebring convertible as we motored gloriously up and down LSD and through the Loop today on our way to and from mother/daughter/neice mani/pedis. I needed fresh, colorful nails for the trip abroad, J & Aubs were capturing brighter looks for the weekend.

With no car ceiling to obstruct our view, the city opened up for us in a new way today. How breathtaking to be able to look up and see straight to the top of the Sears Tower, how amazing to look directly up into the underbelly of the El. We luxuriated in seeing the Windy City from a new perspective, yet we remarked that we also felt a little vulnerable with the top down.

I'm imagining that a new perspective is also in store for me as I cross the Atlantic for the first time, off to observe the world opening up in a new way. And of course the vulnerability of being on my own and leaving my much needed support system behind me in the states gives me more than a little pause. But I could use a fresh perspective on how to live my life and I'm hoping this trip will be as glorious as the ragtop day we had today!

Getting Ready

Still a few more days before I go to England to study at Lancaster University and I'm here in Chicago visiting J and Ry and the little furry one. This is a photo of us learning how to blog. That's me on the left. You can probably guess which one is J. Hint: She's not the furry one.