Transitions and Observations

To date, we've logged 3200+ miles since we left South Carolina last Monday.  Consequently, I've had a lot of time to sit and think and the big revelation I've had is that this whole transition thing has made me a bit self-important.  The fact of the matter is that there's a lot of us in transition - the fact that we're moving to a new place doesn't make us any more 'special' than any other air-breathing human on the planet.  As we've travelled I've had the opportunity to keep up with friends on facebook and such and what that's reminded me is that we're all on our own journey.  I think about my friend Neely who's helping her mom transition from this life to the next (and if you've not read her blog I highly recommend it - www.glimpsinggod.com - she's a fabulous writer).  I also think about my friends MK & David who are transitioning into parenthood in the coming weeks and I think of my friends who have their first child in middle school this year and I realize that we're all in the same club - life.  So - today's the day friends - time to put on my big girl underpants and seize the change for it's one thing that's certain in life.  And again - I'm grateful - for the opportunity to explore with my thoughts as we've travelled across the United States to a new place that we'll make home.  As we've travelled we've experienced pieces of America I never knew existed and I've noticed a few things that I may have missed had our family of four not been confined to our sedan this past week:

1 - The sound of my children's laughter will never get old - and it's one of my favorite sounds.

2 - My children's excitement motivates me to do things I may otherwise talk myself out of doing (read: the St. Louis Arch is really high and the egg things you have to sit in to get up top are really small and I don't normally like either of those things...but the kids were pumped so we did it).

3 - Eastern Kansas is not flat - at all!  Who knew?  It's lovely too.

4 - Corn is everywhere...EVERYWHERE.

5 - Icons [natural and man made] I've heard of all my life are pretty amazing to see in person.

6 - Yellowstone National Park & Grand Teton National Park = incredible.  I could go on for days about them, but won't.

7 - I really like Boise, Idaho.  However, I found the rest of Idaho to smell like cow.

8 - The drive along the Columbia River between Washington State and Oregon is breathtaking.

9 - Tomorrow I get to see where Goonies was filmed - this is exciting beyond measure for me and I've decided most appropriate.  That movie defined the ultimate adventure for me as a young person and now, as I am living the biggest adventure my little family has had so far, we get to go to the site in person.  WAH! 

10 - Life is good...unpredictable, but really good.

So here's to grabbing life by the tail and swinging it around your head!  Transition is.  And the grace that I've found is in people going thru their own transitions who help teach me how to go through my own sensitively.  Thank heavens for good people around and among us who help us be our better selves.