Asheville
Asheville has been just as restorative as I thought it would be. It has always held a special place in Nik and my hearts because when we were early in our dating, she had a clinical in Asheville for a month while in PA school at Duke (I was in NP school at Duke at the same time) and I drove up one weekend (called out of work when I was bedside nursing) to surprise her. We have had many anniversaries in Asheville, typically in cabins with hot tubs on their porch. Part of the nostalgia is the northeastern feel that the Blue Ridge Mountains elicit. My gram grew up in these mountains and I have a painting in my house she gave to me that she said reminded her of her childhood views.
We have done lots of snowy hiking with the pup, eating all the amazing food here and reading all the books I need to get through before I leave. I can’t waste precious luggage cargo with actual books, so I am loading my kindle with library books (I'll turn off the Wi-Fi, which is the frugal trick I learned from one of the MSF alums I have met with.).
I am assuming my leave date will be within the week. There are only a few loose ends I need to do, including seeing some littles in NC and visiting with my Gram. But honestly, I’m ready. It will be hard but I am prepared for that too. I’m lucky to have such a support network of folks who I can rely on for all the small or big favors I may need in the next year while I’m abroad. I am continuing to just live it one day at a time. And when I do that, all is well.
