Last days in the USA

When you are leaving home for an extended time you see your environment with new eyes. I lovingly observe the objects I will miss, the light on the plants round the patio, the dog laying in the cool behind the planter, the convenience of making whatever you have a taste for in a your own kitchen. Simple pleasures. It's almost hard to pull myself away to do the work required before our departure, calling credit card companies, putting the bedrooms of the house away,preparing the inside and outside of the house for the young women to take over who will be here while we are gone.

We leave in a few hours now- so glad it is raining! Leaving the Upper Midwest at the height of our "season"- plants blooming, light winds, pets slumbering in the sunlight, last sweet summer nights- is very difficult, so the damp weather makes it all so much more palatable. I'm starting our journey tired since complaining of a nagging back ache from too much stress and work caused Kevin to give me Excedrin last night. Sadly it had caffeine, so I was quite awake most of the night! Maybe it's an omen I will sleep on my way to Paris, the city of lights. Europe here we come...