stuck on a train.

Check out that pack! Shout out to Lydia for my lunch bag.

Last night, I left my gaggle of folks in a smoothed out frenzy to catch a plain to Raleigh. I spent most of yesterday running errands to get ready for our trip. Bri jumped into my day and graciously helped sew (read: actually sewed, in entirety. I did nothing but pop into the living room occasionally) while I did a last minute trim down of my backpack. (6 weeks of Europe came to about 30lbs, some of that weight in the form of gifts ❤️) 

Veronica made dinner and katie mixed a few beverages while I made some Chex mix with jenna. I wish I'd taken a picture of the scene, it was cute and encouraging and it definitely reminded me of the whole, "it takes a village" adage.

Bri finished her stitches and jenna took over the cooking so veronica could take me to the airport. I was pretty anxious but excited. Veronica & I rode to the airport, departing for a few days until she meets me in Philly for her sisters graduation. Fortunately, the airport was pretty empty so I made it to Lydia & Dustin's before midnight. At breakfast with Lydia at chickfila, resembling the many Friday

breakfast dates we shared while she was in college.

And now, I'm chilling on some train tracks about 30 miles outside of Richmond. On the first leg of the ride, I sat next to a kind (polish, I believe) woman on her way back from her granddaughters graduation. Talking with her and skimming the train map in the seat-back pockets reminded me of how important it is to travel if you have the means. That's littered with privilege, i know. But my God, watching the trees and swamps pass by, peppered by the subtle accent of a Eastern European ex-pat was unreal. She told me stories of her family packing 5 children + tents + backpacks into a station wagon to through camp portions of the east coast. She said it was certainly an adventure, but she would gladly do it again. I hope that in my older age, I too will be a warm crinkle eyed woman quietly staring out he window, resting in the gift of simultaneous stillness and movement.

From here, I'll get to meet up with hannah Vaughn (AND meet her fiancé!!!) before I catch my early ass flight to philly. It's finally happening & holy wow, I'm excited about it. Veronica and I will get to adventure through the UK and navigate the terrain of being long distance for a month or so. It'll be grand and wild and full. And for that I give great thanks.