Long Way From Home

Okay, it's been about a week since I've posted, so I'm doing to do a quick update of the past week (fo' real, keeping it short) and then move on to tonight's topic because I'm a bit sleepy...

Sunday, December 5th--Church, Christmas Tree decorating with my family and Aunt Cilla who was down from DC/VA visiting my O and O. :)

Monday--Last day of (undergraduate) classes at UGA FOREVER!!!!

Tuesday--didn't actually do anything academically productive in preparation of finals, but I got to go swimming at the Y with my mama, which definitely brightened my day! I also went grocery shopping and happened to run into a WWII vet who told me it was not only Pearl Harbor Day, but also his birthday. He shared with me about some of his experiences with General Patton during the war, including Normandy and drinking Irish Totties. He was one of those people that you meet once and probably won't ever see again, but they just brighten your day with their energy. :) And of course the Flagline Christmas party was tonight too! <3 you girls!

Wednesday--Reading Day (AKA catch up on everything I should've done before....) Also the first day of Chanukah. Asa (one of the kids I babysit) gave me a golden dreidel and told me about how their family celebrates (including no HW after sundown)

Thursday-FINALS! Marketing at noon and MGMT at 7 (blegggggh). Today was broken up with a nice lunch with my best friend Lisa in 5 Points and some babysitting, before taking the dreaded 3 hour test at night. I celebrated being done by making Lisa her Christmas present, a gigantic collage. :)

Friday--Intern Prep final meeting time/brunch potluck complete with fun youtube vids and donuts and monkayyyy bread made by Lisa. We walked back to my house and exchanged presents. I got some Disney socks to keep my feet warm when I'm interning in NC, some note cards to write everyone, and a picture frame with some great pictures of me and Agent L. :) And Lisa <3'ed her collage almost as much as I loved making it. I took a much needed nap, went swimming with Mama and my sister Maribel,  packed for my trip to NC this weekend and headed out to Bethlehem! (at Tuckston UMC) We put on a live nativity scene and I had a great time being part of such a fun experience for the children and their families. I was especially touched by a conversation with a grandmother and her 2 granddaughters, one of which was only a year and a half old and had been undergoing chemo treatments since she was very young. Watching my mom battle breast cancer, I know how harsh and intimidating treatment can be, but this family was so happy. It was inspiring to see their joy during this season and I pray for healing for the youngest, Piper.

So that brings us up to today.....

This afternoon I left Athens and drove all the way across South Carolina and North Carolina to Winston-Salem! I'm visiting with my fabulous cousin Steph, her mama and dad (my aunt Patti and uncle Ted) and I'll get to see my cousins Jonathan and Miho, their precious baby Emi and my great aunt Deanna (aka grammy dani)  tomorrow morning for breakfast and on Tuesday I'm meeting with Michael, my intern suprevisor at SECCA. :)


The title for this post comes from a song that I was listening too on the way up here today by a band called The Heavy that my fabulous boyfriend "borrowed" from the internet for me. (Shout out to my boo!)


when I'm a long way from home
so much pressure on my bones
I'm such a long way from home
but I'll be back soon


don't tie on the telephone line
you got the words to help me ease up my mind
no one love me like the way that you love me so
I got to tear the phone from the tip of my tongue
cause I know where I'll find you
I know just where you lie
always deep in my heart
you're by my side


I think these lyrics are pretty self explanatory, but it was nice to hear my emotions echoed by the speakers in my car as I left Georgia this morning to learn more about what awaits me in the next 4 months for my internship here in Winston-Salem, NC. It's been really easy to be excited about this opportunity when January was so far in the future, but yesterday as I was packing for this trip, it really hit me: I'm preparing to move 2 states away from everything I've ever known and all the people I love....

I don't know why I got so emotional yesterday (perhaps it was the culmination of finals stress, lack of sleep, and too much sugar from all of the holiday parties) but thankfully Lisa and Nick were there to remind me that the people that I love are only a telephone call or the click of a mouse away. I know that this experience is probably going to be one of the hardest things that I'll ever do, but in the end I think it will be the best. I am given the beautiful opportunity to grow as a professional and a person as I realize who I am outside of Athens, Georgia and get to jump into the professional world while celebrating my passion for fine arts. Saying that it's going to "be tough" to be away from my family, boyfriend, and friends doesn't even begin to cover it, but I know that I have the support and love of all the amazing people in my life to encourage me as I meet these challenges and opportunities.