Pick up a roadmap, you’re going to need it…

I feel like I’m leaving something precious here in Louisiana and the next time I come home it won’t really be home. I feel like it won’t be the same place that I left. I feel that I’m truly saying goodbye to some people this week. Reality is hitting about my family and the medical situations they are in - my grandparents are getting older and my Grandpa is so sick with cancer, Aunt Barbara isn’t doing to well with the cancer and all, Mimi gets so tired so fast, etc.

I spent the afternoon with my 13 year old cousin, Brianna, yesterday. She’s growing up so fast. I can’t believe this year I won’t be seeing her chear at her middle school’s football games, or be here for her birthday come the spring, or be able to take her out for coffee except when I’m in for a short visit for the holidays. We went shopping and out for lunch - talking and laughing the whole time. I was shocked by how much, and how fast, she is growing up. She’s almost as tall as me now! And if her parents are any indication of her height - she’s going to be a few inches taller than me. The good thing is that she still doesn’t think that she is too cool to be seen with her cousin who is 11 years older than she is. I told her some embarassing stories about myself yesterday and it was so priceless - rarely have I seen her speachless and I got her a few times. I’ve decided that she is my shopping good luck charm because I found lots of good stuff on sale with her helping me. She understood exactly what I meant when I said I wanted to “dress like a teacher without looking like a teacher.” Low and behold I found a pair of slacks, a belt and two pairs of shoes with her help.

I’m getting to see one of my college friends before I leave and for that I am so excited. Mindi and I graduated from the teaching program at the same time and she has been pushing me to get a classroom of my own for the last year or so. I have only seen her 2 or 3 times since she got married I think, and I look forward to celebrating a new job (for me) and going to grad school (for her) with her. I can’t wait to hear what is new in her and Sean’s lives since I saw her last summer.

Ok, I need to go say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa soon and I’m just wasting time on here. I think I’m putting off saying goodbye way too long. I also need to go out to Cliff and Debbie’s compound soon to say goodbye to them. My friends have to come to me to say goodbye - I am going to my family for all those goodbyes. Bellevue, LA here I come for the afternoon… 2 a.m. I am probably going to see you today…