Gettin' ready to drive on!

I'm not really sure what this one should be named - I'm 3 days away from going to my Grandma's for a week and therefore continuing the cross - country road trip before we take off.  My time at home has been good for me - I don't come back much because really it depresses me to find out who died, who got divorced, who got married, who had more kids, etc etc.  Everyone around here knows everyone and a lot of the stories end up being pretty damn sad.  There are some good ones, though, and it has been a blessing to reconnect with people that I haven't seen or heard from in years. 

When I tell people what I'm doing, the reactions are varied buy my favorites so far was someone that my mom talked to said "You mean they don't have kids or husbands or anything? - Yes - Those lucky bitches!  And yes, that's pure jealousy talking!"  He he he - and my friend Bethany who I've known forever - "In an alternate universe, I'm single and coming with you."  Also "I'll carry your backpack, you can carry me and you'll still be backpacking!"  I did get my long undies for when it gets cold, and a sweater as well.  As far as having everything packed is concerned, I'm prepared!  As far as the road trip and when we'll be staying where... well... that's a different story.  Trying to do the whole - "let go and let God" thing... but on the other hand, Heaven helps those who help themselves... I just have a couple more phone calls to make!

I'm really looking forward to meeting Ana in Baltimore and hanging out until we leave.  I am still annoyed at the airline, but as my friend Carolyn said, there's probably a reason it was changed.  Hell, it just hit me that we'll be coming into Germany at the same time that everyone is suffering a hangover from Oktoberfest (which is actually in September).  He he he - I feel their pain.  Went out to the bar with my friends a couple nights ago and got way too happy and had a hangover all yesterday.  And that is why I love Saturday vigil Masses - get your God time on and then not have to be in church with a hangover the next day!  Probably a very heathenistic way of looking at it, but hey, works for me!  It's kind of funny drinking around here when I'm all legal and stuff... he he he... much better than the illegal times, and I still haven't run into anyone that I really didn't want to see at the bar.  It's easier to avoid people around here than I thought.  Oh, also, I used to think that Riverton was sometimes a pain to get around... not after 5 years in the metroplex!!  It also struck me the other day how different all the houses are.  Living in Coppell, Lewisville and Las Colinas, all the houses and stuff were kinda the same - brick with maybe some siding and generally the same architecture.  Here it's a totally different story - you'll see a trailer, a 2-story house and a little one-person cottage all on the same block!  The population is now a little over 10,000 - and yes, that's a BIG town in Wyoming.  I don't love it here - I like the people, the rodeo, the country-ish way of doing things, but I can't ever see myself moving back to Riverton.  Maybe somewhere else in Wyoming if I ever want to have the snow back in my life, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. 

As much as it's nice to come home to visit, it's not for me - really it never was.  I'm proud to be from Wyoming... but home is made for comin' from.  As Lee Marvin says in Paint Your Wagon.