Almost Buffalo.

briey bri and his snake wine.
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Family and Snow.  This is just what I needed, as well.  No one takes care of you quite as well as mom and dad.

This past week with my family has been just what I needed.  Watching Ava grow up.  Seeing my brother and his wife as their family grows right before their very eyes, is well worth every minute.

It's fine time that I accept heavy metal in my life..

The week has been filled with playing in the snow, sniffling noses, fires, huge meals and just family fun.  Just what it's supposed to be all about, being with the people that have known you for almost twenty seven years and finding out that there are still things that you all have to learn from one another.

ava and parkie.
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Many realizations.

The first, I think it's fine time that I accept heavy metal in my life (or at least try).  I've always had an eclectic music repertoire, but there is one area that is lacking.  I am going to take my brother Brian's advice and "raise the horns, stand up and shout!"  I'm rather excited about this new musical avenue.

The second, family and friends are essential to living a fulfilled life.  It doesn't matter if they are next door or a plane ride away.

ava and deBRA.
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The third, I'm not going to South America.  It's crazy, I never thought that I would ever choose to end my travels earlier than expected.  In fact, I thought I'd find myself staying somewhere and teaching english for a year.  I'm not quite sure what to say about it all, but I will say that I feel very confident in this decision and I'm really excited about moving back to the NW.  I'm excited to be able to talk with friends on the phone and see their smiling faces.  I can't wait to talk with my family on the phone and have no delay in phone lines.  I'm excited to fly from coast to coast and experience that which I love about both sides that I call home.  Most importantly, I can't wait to get back into the public school system and I need to do whatever it takes to make that happen.  Stopping my travels a bit earlier than expected seems like a logical and much welcomed answer to that.

The fourth, this doesn't mean that I am done traveling forever, I'm just done traveling at this moment.  (For starters, I fly to Costa Rica tomorrow for one last leg of this epic adventure).  In the grand scheme of it all, I can't wait to visit each continent when the time is right.  Heck, I've got a lot of years ahead of me to see it all.  I'm practicing the art of slowing down.  I don't need it all and I don't need it all right now.