Butterflies and Knots!

Well, the count down has really begun.  A week from right now I had better be in bed....no sleep, but at least in bed.  Everything will have been done and all the anticipation behind us.

I was given a small preview of things to come from my nephew and his wife this weekend.  They just returned from a whirlwind 9 days and enjoyed all of it.  Sue is ready to go back anytime and be with her "Gypsies" and any other horse she can find.  They visited a Gypsy Breeder and all her mares and foals followed her everywhere; the National Stud Farm and even caught some horse races on the beach!  What I've seen of the pictures so far have been wonderful!  (Anything with a horse in it makes the two of us happy.) :)  Comments from both of them have moved me to the melancholy mood once again especially when Michael says that he wishes his Grandmother could have been there. :'/   When Sue and I finished talking their first day back I had so many butterflies in my stomach!  I'm so anxious to be able to share some of the same experiences with them.  Our first week will be in some of the same counties and towns that they visited with a few others thrown in for good measure.  Another new adventure has been added, thank you, to a new friend in Wexford.  There will be a special "Ladies Only" event that he will be performing at and has been kind enough to invite us to.  Not only will we get to enjoy his beautiful voice but a tour of his home town.  It always makes it special to see a place through the "natives" eyes.

I actually kept my goal of packing this last weekend (sort of).  Trying to figure out what I can take in carry on without upsetting the TSA and what I should check is a bit challenging.  All I could think of was I needed the help of my friend Priscilla.  She's an amazing "packer" and can put more things in a small space.  I've actually got plenty of room in both cases but am just trying to be sure not to be overweight on the checked piece.  It's been rather sad to talk with both her and my other best friend, Deanna.  The two of them are beyond sisters to me and I don't get to see either of them often enough what with Priscilla in Texas and Deanna recently moved a good two hour drive away.  And now to be gone for as long as we are it will seem very strange.  Really wish they could be joining us.  At least we have email and Skype.   

Just a few more errands to run; bank, cleaners and a couple of other little things to pick up.  Oh, and cat food.  Poor Katie.  I know she'll have good care.  Another friend to will be looking out for her (with a "back up" just in case).  Fortunately Nancy LOVES animals and has offered to make sure Daddy's baby is well cared for during my absence.  She'll probably be even more spoiled than she already is by the time Nancy finishes with her.

Just little things left now.  Almost all set.  Spending the weekend with my father and having a great Father's Day celebration is my primary goal now.  He's been so encouraging and supportive about this whole trip.  It's made it so much easier to do this. So all that is left now is deep breathes and try to relax those knots I'm feeling right now.  The dream is really coming true!