Everything nice.: Back to reality.

Well, kids, it happened.... the day finally came when I had to hop on a plane and fly away from my beloved NW and back to the Midwest. I really thought it never would for a few brief moments. Being home in Oregon does this weird thing to me... I feel like I'm in another world, and somehow, all thoughts of work and life back in Decatur barely crossed my mind. It was fabulous - I could completely compartmentalize everything and just enjoy and relax without feeling guilty.

Alas, Nick and I had to wake up bright and early Monday morning and go to the airport. I have to say, this was the most I've ever cried leaving home. I didn't even cry when my parents left me in Chicago when I first moved away, not even knowing anyone yet! The minute I hugged my mom and she let loose (poor Mom!), I couldn't hold the floodgates back. The tears just kept flowing for the majority of the drive up, and if I wasn't crying, I was fighting them back and trying realllly hard not to think about the fact that I was leaving and probably not coming back til next May. I finally pulled myself together, only to start crying again when my Dad dropped us off and I hugged him goodbye! Goodness, I was pathetic. Thankfully, Nick still loves my no-makeup, cry-face and made me feel a lot better just by traveling with him.

I thought I'd have to work today, but I don't, which is both a blessing and a curse. I'm glad because I could lay in bed til 11 and know that I can still get something done today, but I also know that not working til Thursday means that Thursday is going to be very difficult to want to do, even more-so than today would have been. Basically, today is kinda sucky all around, and Nick and I are totally out of sorts. Poor guy actually had to go to work, and he was not happy about it. My plan is to unpack, clean the apartment, pick up some needed groceries, and hopefully make it to the gym. I know that once I get back into the swing of things I'll be fine, but leaving was very hard, and I miss my family a lot. Also, the fact that I probably won't get to go home for Christmas doesn't help. Such is adult life, I guess!

I updated a couple of times on my trip home, but I still have lots more pictures to post and things to tell you about some of the wedding planning business, so those will have to come later. In the meantime, a few pictures of my surrounding neighborhood and lovely Bush Park from a walk with Lola.