It's 2 a.m. and we just finished packing. What a nightmare!! I don't consider myself a diva by any means (I can be ready to go anywhere in 5 minutes), but 85 litres is not as much as it sounds! I had to pack and unpack three times to make it all fit. I tell ya, that backpack is a b!tch of a lover! Nice to you one second...busting your chops the next. I'd open up one set of zippers only to have my stuff fall out another set of zippers. Anyway, I finally made it all fit (with room to spare after I got tough with myself) and now it's staring at me with it's taunting shoulder straps and oversized waist band. I have a feeling this war has just begun.
We said most of our goodbyes tonight. My dad came from Grimshaw to see us off and we had a lot of laughs! I saw him this past weekend as well and shed most of my goodbye tears then thinking I wouldn't see him again before we left. He will most likely come to South Africa when we're there though so it won't be too long before we meet up again. That will be a blast! He is the most fun person to travel with and you will always have an adventure if you're with him!
I bid adieu to Debi and thought long and hard about her wedding we'd be missing. I tried not to think about the details...her something borrowed, something blue. I tried to focus on the delicious cupcakes she brought but, in the end, we cried. Of course we did. I think there was a lot left unsaid mostly because it was just too damn difficult. Our weekly coffee dates are something I'll miss very much.
I made calls and said farewell to Murina. We didn't cry, but that was only because we hung up strategically and promised to learn how to use Skype. I think she may be worried that I'll end up dead in a ditch. She didn't say as much, but I know her. When I went to meet Kevin for the first time (we met online) she made me describe to her, in detail, what I was wearing. It was for the police report, she explained sternly....for when they found me chopped up in a suitcase by the river. Don't worry Meena!! I'll be safe. I can only hope this trip turns out half as well as that first meeting with Kev!
Lastly, I said goodbye to Jenny. That was very difficult. I almost escaped without any tears but didn't make it. I think it was the six month baby bump that dissolved my resolve. You see, I was there for the birth of both her and Luke's children...but won't be there for this one. It breaks my heart. We've been tied at the hip since we were 12 and have shared the important moments....engagements, marriages, babies etc but this is one thing I'll have to miss. I'm not happy about it. I'll leave it at that because I feel the tears coming back....
Tomorrow (or later today if you want to get technical) will be the hardest goodbye of all. I'll have to say goodbye to my mom and my brother. I've never been away from my mom for more than 2 1/2 months so this will be tough. She's my soft place to fall (love you mommy! xoxo). That farewell is going to make me sob like a baby. It's going to be terribly embarrassing. I've convinced myself that my brother will meet us somewhere along our travels and that makes his goodbye easier. Hopefully it won't be a full year until I see him again. His face makes me smile.
I guess it was naive to think that goodbyes would be easier because we had this grand adventure ahead. I think it makes it that much harder because you can't really share the experiences with the people you love the most. Blogs and emails are great but they aren't the same. I miss them already and we haven't even left yet...the plane leaves in 6 1/2 hours!
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