At the airport

I've said all of my goodbyes, packed months worth of clothes into a single duffel bag, and I am almost on my way. Sitting at gate B15 of the SeaTac airport, with about 10 other travelers who are also here two hours before their flight to Houston leaves, I don't really feel like I'm going anywhere.

I suppose I'll have to believe all of this is real once I get off the plane in the 90 degree Managua sunshine... but right now I don't feel like it's true! I'm mostly a little exhausted from a hectic day of last-minute running around and packing (...and re-packing). I'm also a little bit torn, leaving my friends and family here in Seattle: admittedly, I teared up a little when hugging my parents and boyfriend goodbye outside security. They stayed and waved to me as I got my bags re-checked by Security Man when I forgot to take my laptop out of the bag and run it through on its own... Traveling with fancy technology is new to me! What can I say?

But anyways, here I am. I am almost a caricature of a typical Seattelite, with my Birkenstocks, flannel, spare flannel, and REI hiking pack. I am feeling better and better about this trip by the minute, and now I just hope that the next hour and a half until boarding passes quickly...

All for now! More to come...

R.