Why are you awake?

This was the question posed to me by my husband as he left for work this morning. After our long drive home from visiting family and friends for a couple of days near Boise, ID we were both very tired. I was awake because his alarm went off.

He got up and ready for work. I tried to roll over and go back to bed but in 10 short days, I'll be on a plane. Away from everyone for 4 1/2 months. 10 days?! That's a countdown! Like, a real official countdown. I have SO MUCH to do in 10 days including:

Finish packing suitcases, duffels and maybe one more box to ship if it doesn't all fit.

Get a room ready for a long term guest.

Present at a track clinic in Seaside.

Drive my Jeep as much as possible!

Mow the yards.

Spend time with hubby and family.

Spend time with friends (Charlene must be going NUTS!)

Keep the house clean.

Laundry (making sure I keep what I am packing clean and ready to go while still living)

Suspend insurance for the Jeep and for me while I am away.

Make shopping lists for Anchorage.

Make a photo CD and get it in the mail.

Show off my new shoes while driving the Jeep some more!

Cuddle with puppies.

Going away party.

Why am I awake? Because this list, along with so many other thoughts and ideas run through my head like a freight train. I don't have the ability to sleep once semi-concious. It's just not possible.

Not that you hadn't guessed it already.........10 days and counting.....

The long (short) haul

We do things in life that are for the long term. We do things in life that are for the short term. How do we make something that is long term fit into a short term category? You don't. When you have to do, you just cram it all in and hope enough of it packs into that little container that what squeezes out wasn't the part you loved most.

My husband, a long haul. After seven years of no formal pictures, I insisted that we get some taken. We now have some that make me smile when I look at them and will keep me sane while I'm away. People ask how we are going to do it, living apart for a school year. I tell them I'll be home in 4.5 months and then again during the summer. I tell them to ask someone who's been in the military about how they handle being apart because I'm sure it's much the same manner. I just know people won't intentionally be shooting my direction. (well, I hope not anyhow....otherwise I have problems!) Anyhow, spending as much time with the hubby now as possible is like trying to cram a lifetime into a small amount of time that we have left.

Family. They are a long haul too. You can't get rid of them. Sometimes we want to when they embarrass us. We have all had those moments. You know you are all smiling right now thinking of something that crazy aunt or uncle, cousin or parent has done that made you want to crawl under a rock and hide did. However, we love them all the same. Right now, I'm cramming all I can in and drinking in what I can of my family. (except for this little bit of time writing. OPPS!) Big bonus right now, I get to cram in some Sweden Family time too as they happen to be here when I am here. YEAH!

Friends. Many friends can come and go from our lives. Some are there for specific points to get us through certain phases in life. The friends I am talking about are those that have been there for life. Getting to hug those friends one last time before I leave means the world. It's those friends who you can talk to them and their families for 10 minutes and that's all that's needed that I'm talking about. Nothing's awkward, not really too rushed but friendship is renewed in an instant thought it might have been several months or even a year since you saw them last. It's all that's needed so that both feel better and can continue to move along with life.

The short haul, trip home, a track clinic presentation for a respected coach, and a bit more packing. Oh, and maybe some geocaching!

13 days........

Graduation day support

Yesterday was a pretty big day. Family came out to support me as I walked across the stage with 739 people to receive a degree. Many of those people I did not know, had never met and might only come across them in passing again. The walk through professors was a walk through my past. It spanned back through a time where I was just out of high school and headed into college not knowing much and trusting some of them with my life. (Coach Caster and the hammer throw!) I saw professors whom I admire, respect and have grown to love. Many asked how I was doing and then asked about the teaching I'll be doing in Alaska. For those who might just be joining, I hope you enjoy the journey.

To my family who came and supported me (by getting sore bums and backs while playing iPad) yesterday day in the stands, thank you. The graduation was long but I was happy to have you there! Plus, wasn't the name reader's voice totally worth it?! It was like a wonderful song that kept on forever. I wonder how long he had to practice those obscure names to get them just right?

On the flip side, I keep receiving information from my school district. A friend of mine and I who are arriving in Anchorage together are going to be flying from Anchorage to King Salmon together as well. I like that idea. We received a letter/email that gives us a $50 credit for Lake and Peninsula School District (LPSD) logo clothing. That's the next step for me today, I love sporting the school colors/logos! Then there is the idea of more packing. Wait...more...how about I start with figuring out what I am really going to pack, what I am going to ship and figuring out what address I need to ship it to!

My passport came yesterday. It's pretty official looking, though the picture looks more like a mug shot than an ok travel picture. I know you aren't supposed to smile in it but a smirk would have at least been nice. Darn it, I'm saddled with that picture now for 10 years! Oh well, as long as it gets me where I want to go if I ever need to leave the country, it will work for me.

So many things happened yesterday, life changing, transcript changing, moving forward onto the next step. I sure hope I am ready because it just keeps getting closer.

54 days...