Back in Gainesville

I’m sitting in Catherine and Spencer’s living room in Dahlonaga, GA, just north of Gainesville.  I arrived in Atlanta late Wednesday night, and Danielle picked me up from the airport.  I spent the night, the following day and night with her in Lawrenceville.  We had a really refreshing time of talking, along with some great food from the restaurant at which she works.  

After some debating and attempting to arrange to see all my scattered Georgia friends, I opted for renting a little car, a Kia Rio to be exact.  It’s about the size of a jelly bean, and gold, but good enough for me.  So this morning, I jumped in my little ‘gold nugget’ and headed up to Gainesville, stopping at REI outdoor sports store, and Panera on my way.  I dropped by my original Starbucks store, and said hello to the one person working that I knew from nearly a year and a half ago.  Then on to Catherine and Spencer’s, where 

I plan on spending the whole weekend, with visits into Gainesville here and there.  I am excited to simply be in a beautiful, warm place, enjoying friends, sharing stories of our respective years, and doing a lot of nothing.  

My hope is that now since I have my own computer and a little bit of time on my hands, maybe now I can get some of my million World Race pictures sorted out.  ...Hopefully....

I love it here in Georgia.  Signs of spring are much more abundant than at home (certainly to be expected), and I’m soaking in every bit of it.  Some trees are green, but the most lovely are those that are blossoming with pinkish white flower blossoms before the leaves show up.  They remind me of the “White Way of Delight” of which Anne of Green Gables so fondly spoke.  I’m surrounded by hills and never ending woods and forests.  I had forgotten how pretty it is here, and how much I actually enjoyed living here last year...er...the year before....2006.

It felt good to travel again too; to be at an airport, flying, waiting for luggage...the whole bit.  I was alone this time, not with 20-50 other people, but it was still fun.  I have always loved the being in airports, and flying, whether alone or with company.  Admittedly, I would prefer to travel with someone, (though maybe not 50 someones), but there are certain adventures one can only enjoy alone.  I love people watching, and then having brief conversations with strangers, opportunities I am not so eager to take with a familiar face right next to me.  I was able to make the decision to walk the half mile to the next terminal instead of taking the train without consulting anyone, and as I did, so did the flight crew from my flight, so I chatted with them as we walked. (The train didn’t seem to be coming and the computerized timer kept counting down from 3 minutes, over and over....obviously there was a problem, and I didn’t feel like standing around with frustrated people.)  Oh, the simplicity of traveling alone.  I loved the last year when I didn’t have to make all the decisions, and be responsible for all the gang, but this week, I am really appreciating the freedom of making decisions for myself, since it only affects me. :-)