Going-Away Party

This picture is close to my heart. The flowers were donated by Docey, fresh from her garden. And the brownies were compliments of Mutter but requested by moi.
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I figured if I was going to be gone for a year, the best way to see everyone before I left was a huge party. So, my whole family chipped in and we pulled it off. We worked diligently in the yard and set-up my "outdoor livingroom" tent, cleaned the entire house (thanks Aunt Susan), re-did porches and painted (Uncle Steve), cooked (myself and Mutter)(and yes, Meg and Katie did the potatoes), and decorated (my parents worked hard on all of the above).

We had the whole back yard set-up with grass mats, cushy lawn furniture, and a white sheet to create the outdoor bedouin tent look. However, it was so hot the the party just never naturally migrated out that direction unitl around 9pm. Owen, myself, Katie, Meg, Eli, Arthur, Erik, Shady, Michelle, and Ben finally gave the tent some use at the end of the evening as we finished the night with brownies and champaigne (first, wonderful, bottle compliments of Eli.)

I got to have a wonderful day surrounded by so many people that I care about that let's me leave for this trip feeling even more rooted in who I am and where I am from.

Grandma, Ginny, Pat, and Julius. These people have great converstation to offer. I was so glad they came.
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We had a wonderful, all-day long, get together of my friends of all ages. We had children of 4 up to children of 90. There were people who have know me since I was a baby to those whom I have just met in the past year. It really was the perfect day before a trip like this. I got to have wonderful conversations surrounded by so many people that I care about that let's me leave for this trip feeling even more rooted in who I am and where I am from. I will get on that plane Thursday with an immense sense of peace that is a real asset when preparing for an adventure of this magnitude. Thanks to everyone who helped and everyone that came, it was a perfect day!