Oh my goodness. I am leaving in about 24 hours. Is this real life? I am FREAKING OUT! I literally just told my mom I have no idea how to express my feelings of freaking out. I think I'm getting a migraine from worrying so much. Is that possible? I mean I know I am going to at least try to knock myself out for the flight, but I have a feeling I am going to be too nervous to sleep, even with the Benadryl I plan on taking. And believe me, I plan on taking A LOT. I need to sleep otherwise I will most definitely be a walking zombie for the first few days. And on top of all that, we have a jam packed schedule the first few days we are there. We have orientation, walking tours, dinners and some more walking tours on top of that! CRAZY!
I asked my mom how she feels about me leaving. She said she is even more depressed then when I leave for JMU. "Its different Shan because I'm not just 7 hours away, I can't just call or text you whenever I want. I don't like it." We invited some family over for dinner, I got to choose what we are having for dinner. I chose honey baked ham, sweet potatoes and much more, YUM! Of course the kitchen is crazy with loud talking, hungry Irishmen. We are all anxious to eat, hovering around the table, waiting to eat. I mean, I even brought my laptop into the kitchen and currently have both my aunt Tricia and grandmother moving me around to get glasses and spoons. Opening and closing of cabinets, the fizzing of a shaken seltzer and the click of the oven going off. I am going to miss these sounds. Especially the ones of my mother yelling at me get to the table and the rest of my family yelling, "DAMN IT KAY SIT DOWN" to my grandmother who usually doesn't sit until most of us are halfway through our meals.
Well dinner went off without a hitch. We all gorge ourselves, almost to the point of bursting. Something so good, has just turned evil... Things after dinner go as usual. Mom washed, grandma dries, and SHANNON CLEAN THE TABLE! I am definitely going to miss this.
The family banter. Talking about my brother, how good the meal was, the cruise ship going down and the avalanche in Washington. Oh and the warning, cautionary talk begins. "Shannon, now you do know the one thing boys are looking for over there?" "American citizenship? (asked sarcastically of course)" "Well perhaps, but no there is something they are looking for before that." Oh boy, you can just imagine how my night it going. And the conversation has moved on to some distant family member who used to make pea soup and bring it to my grandfather. My uncle jokes that she used to go to the morgue to get the bones used to make the soup, "They have a special seasoning..." Followed by his outrageous belly laugh. How am I going to make it until May without these people?
A night filled with family, laughter, great food and talking horse impressions is something I will unfortunately not get to have until this coming May. Hopefully the other JMU students who are doing the London program will sort of become my family away from family.
Next time I write I'll be in London. Adios America!
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