Sunset to Sunrise...

Be prepared for a lot of reading.
Yesterday was a crazy long day. But shortened by time changes. Which is weird in my mind, because it feels longer than a normal day. Even though it is shortened by nearly seven hours. Anyways.
Before my mom and Rebeka took Jess and I to the airport, my dad made us some French toast in honor of our Bon Voyage, and upon our departure, we found the van festively decorated by my momma and Rebeka, announcing our intent to flee the country.

So, we traveled to the airport, picking up the infamous Adam Wright along the way, and after countless departure pictures, we left our families behind and boarded the tiniest connection plane to New York. Only four rows, with a small middle aisle, you could say it was a bit of a squeeze.

And with our seats scattered about the plane, I was separated from the group, sitting next to a very nice elderly Latino lady, whom I soon discovered knew not a word of English when I introduced myself. One of those embarrassing Hannah moments where I just end up talking to myself. BUT, I had the window seat. Which made Hannah World a much happier place. Every time a plane takes off, it is always so unreal. I mean, how is it okay for the world to be that small? Why does Nashville Shores look like a water park for ants? I refuse to believe it’s real, it’s just all part of some crazy dream. And that rush before we lift off the ground and into the air – I hope it never goes away.

So, after I gave myself a headache from craning to see out the window, I finally settled in for a relatively short flight, listening to good ‘ole John Mayer and the sour old flight attendant badger some innocent mother about the squirmings of her impatient toddler.

And so we landed in New York. And I felt like a glamorous movie star, exiting the plane from a set of stairs rather than the modern terminal. It lasted for a full 15 seconds before I nearly fell face-forward by tripping on the stairs. Then I was rushed into the bustle and brashness of the JFK airport. And before I knew it, I was boarding a B767-400ER to London. Sitting next to Kenzie and Jess, we took off, and we witnessed the most gorgeous sunset EVER. I feel so lucky, that the first time I ever saw the New York City skyline was against such a beautiful backdrop.

And so I settled in, watching movies on the nifty touch screen in front of me and writing in my lovely travel journal. And soon we were served a hot dinner, and not bad either. Though the pasta not the best I have ever tasted, the salad was fresh with lots of cucumbers (my favorite!) and the bread and butter and cheese and crackers were yummy too! I polished off my brownie with a hot cup of black tea and hence finished my first airplane meal ever!

And now, here I am, realizing I am not going to get any sleep on this flight. But God redeemed that little disappointment, because as I sit here typing this, I look out the window and see the sky brightening, and the colors changing and I know that an unforgettable sunrise is coming, and that, in just a couple of hours, I will be meeting Prince Harry and he’ll ask me to marry him. JK, JK, but really.
Good morning London and good night Franklin!

Packing...Kinda.

     So, today, I'm finally leaving! I'm going to England and then making my way over to France! I've been dreaming about a trip like this since I can remember - ever since I was a little girl, these places have always seemed so magical to me. They are far away dreams with Princesses and Princes, Castles, and timeless stories, and I finally get to see, taste, and touch it all.
   Yesterday was packing day. And me, being the procrastinator I am, didn't start packing until around 8...PM. The rest of my day was a chaotic rush, flying around, making last minute preparations: new batteries for my computer and favorite watch, travel sized EVERYTHING because Mrs. Dianna Douglass wouldn't want me to be stranded in a foreign country without fun-sized Kleenex (love you Mom!), new backup memory card, etc.
And then I started packing.

Kinda.

More like my clothes layed in piles aroun my room whilst I distracted myself by updating 90% of the pictures in my room and creating a lovely collage with the leftovers on my mirror.

Then I packed.

Kinda.

Or I chatted with my two bebes Jessica and Rebeka. And searched endlessly for one missing purple flat. But never found it, because Facebook beckoned me, and the oh-so-tempting urge to stalk 200 of my closest friends eventually won me over.

And then I packed.
For real.
And so went my last day before leaving.

Day One

Today is one of my first days of my last summer! As I lay lazily in bed, fiddling with my new laptop (thanks Misty!), I can't help but think how my life is changing. Graduation was three days ago, and I am no longer a high school student. The morning after graduation, my friend, Mary Kate, and I drove out to watch the sunrise. After promptly being kicked off the Natchez Trace bridge by the bored Franklin police, we found a deserted side road where we pulled out our blankets and waited for the sunrise. And we waited. And waited. And the sky lightened slowly, getting brighter and brighter over an hour. But where was the sun? And after an hour of waiting, the sun seemed to burst from the trees, rising fast, and within a minute, the entire sun had shown herself. And I couldn't help but think how the sunrise is like my life right now. I had been waiting for the end of high school and the beginning of the rest of my life for so long, the light was a long time coming, but suddenly, it showed itself and the glory of it all would've been missed in the blink of an eye. So, as I embark on my trip to England and France tomorrow, I have promised myself one thing: that I will not miss the sunrise. Metaphorically of course. I will embrace all the little beautiful moments as well as the glorious, monumental ones. I will not waste days and hours waiting for the short-lived, memorable moments, but I will make every moment as incredible as the next.
So, this time tomorrow, I will be well on my way to making these memories, and it seems so surreal. I cannot wait for it!

Bon voyage!