Today, is the day that my journey begins ending at just this spot...the front door to the Chatette.
These are the days when I wish that all I had to do was click my ruby red slippers and...
...BE HOME!
With so many pieces to coordinate this trip, Sammie cat and I will be heading to Covington with Mike this afternoon to spend the night at Mahogany Oaks. This lets me have some quality time with John and Mike before heading out for two months, spend the evening and night with Sam getting her settled for her two month stay with her uncles, and makes for a direct run from Covington to the airport when Mike takes me in for my flight in the morning.
I'm going to miss my rainbow girl!
It's meant getting us ready to go a little earlier than was absolutely necessary, but I've learned the hard way that unrushed, quality departures are important. A huge part of that for me is being able to be with the people you love who love you back.
And so, yesterday afternoon I had time to head over to Dupre Street to say my a bientots to Eric, Stew and Louie Boy. Today, Mike and I will have some time together before John gets home from work and then I'm sure that the MOB will be in full swing with John, Mike and Carmen for a grand send off this evening.
The very last niggler for me is always a big one. It's hurricane season. I've already had the conversation with my tenants about the refrigerators, turning off the electricity at the main if they leave, and paying attention to garden items that might turn into catapults during a storm.
At the moment, I'm thinking HIGH! It's difficult NOT to remember that anything on the floor was mush after Hurricane Katrina. I'm taking inventory of what's under the beds, what's in suitcases, what's on the lower shelves of book cases, AND do I need to move them and just how HIGH do I need to go? There are moments when I feel foolish, but then I remember that this is what I came back to in 2005...and it doesn't feel foolish at all.
So, we're off.
My heaven on earth is waiting for me. My wonderful friends in Cadrieu have made sure that the Chatette is ready. All systems are go. Evelyn asked me what would be the first thing I'll do when I get inside. That's easy.
Just on the other side of that front door rests my Monsieur Winkelmann. I don't even have to take my back pack off. I can: unwrap my baby; open him up; play a few lines of Moon River; and I would guess, shed a few tears for my Mom.
I'm Home!