Day 3 of ‘To Juneau or Bust’….

11:40pm 12.28.22

Hi All! I am currently snuggled up in bed with Nina with Jeannette tucked into her bed beside us and writing a quick little update. We left Harrisburg around 8:30 and swung by Jeanette’s darling mother’s house where she had prepared a feast of a German brunch for us. We were lucky that J’s brother, Ralph, and his youngest son, Henrick were visiting as well and I got to meet them all for the first time in real life. I have known Jeanette for 14 years and have heard so many stories about her family, but because they live out of state, I have never had the opportunity to introduce them IRL (in real life, as the kids say these days)...

6:32 am 12.29.22

Well, I fell asleep before I could finish this post.

I will tell yall more about the brunch and then the other adventures of yesterday once I am back in the passenger seat and not driving. Dear Jeannette, did most of the driving yesterday because I was emotionally and physically exhausted of all the goodbyes to my ppl in Durham, packing the last of my treasures from my Durham house, and just lack of sleep I’ve had with all the preparations.

Our first rest stop. How very appropriate!

I will post the sweet and loving itinerary that Nik prepared for our adventure today and you can all truly follow along. (Actually I didn't even think about this, but the last couple hotels we had to book ahead in Canada because it was so remote we had to make sure there was a dog friendly place for Nina and if anyone wanted to overnight any love letters, they could do so, I suppose, but no need since we know have something called the inter webs).

I am so excited for this adventure and as I have been telling all my loved ones- I had assumed I would have lots of anxiety, fear and worry about all of the travel, new job and being away from my family in Durham, but actually, all the PTSD and anxiety physical symptoms that started 10 years ago at the beginning of my medical malpractice lawsuit left the moment I stepped out of the airport in Juneau, picked up by my very sweet new boss and friend when I was still deciding if this was the right decision to accept the job offer. That made it abundantly clear that I was on the path that HP had intended for me- the direct result of the 10 years of pain, crises and drama that I had in Durham. I feel so confident that I am on the road of healing and recovery of all of those traumas and am beginning this next chapter with the most serenity and calmness in my soul that I have had in my entire life. I am so grateful for the tools I have learned in AA and therapy that led me to the final choice of this job over the three other job offers I had. 

This is how she spent most of the drive, She really is the best road trip companion. She’s had lots of practice for the many trips of Maine to North Carolina or Durham to Asheville.

More will be revealed to the future of my life, but I am walking into it with a full heart, calm spirit and enveloped with all the prayers and well wishes of all those who are reading this blog right now. I love you all. 

Ok- I am going to eat some breakfast, take Nina out for a little walk and then we will hit the road. Next up is Fargo, North Dakota!

Nina waling the streets of Chicago with me. This is her first time here and I think my third time? If I had planned ahead, there are some lovely ppl that live closely, but alas…