Who knew it would be such a monumental task  preparing to leave one’s life for 3 months? Extracting myself from the daily routines of living turned out to be an exercise in purging. I was finding it difficult to wrap my my head around the idea that upon return, the seasons would have turned twice and winter would be our welcome mat back to Michigan. I began to feel the primal need to throw things out and give stuff away, as if I wasn’t meant to come back. For the past few months, I rummaged through junk drawers, under beds, in the dark corners of closets and the far reaches of dusty shelves. I emptied and burrowed, scrubbed and swept, found some old treasures, and let go a lot of detritus from the past. Much of this had to do with the end of an era. The last child launching and here I am left with the memories of years that went way too fast.

So now, the closets are bare, my desk pristine, the fridge is barren, the kitchen cabinets empty. Friends have jokingly asked if we are going for good. There was some obvious symbolic shit going on here but my manic urge to cleanse masked whatever it was. I had too many lists to cross off. Bills to be automated, gear to be purchased, veggie garden to be put to bed, pool closed.  Sons to be delivered safely to their next station in life. You get it. Summer was a whirlwind of To Do. But it’s all done now. Nothing left but to drink champagne and toast to the unknown. To the Road.