I Can't Believe It Either!

I am packed! And even with the presents I have managed ONE bag just under 50lbs. HOW AWESOME AM I? No, don't answer that. I know you know.

Yesterday was spent shopping for my nine year old nephew and can WOW it was hard. It's amazing how big the jump is from eight to nine and how much more difficult shopping for boys is. They don't like the things that eight year old boys like. And what I realized quickly is that the age group for "children" jumps from about seven to sixteen. I can either get my nephew tinkertoys or StreetFighter BLOOD AND SEX edition. Where are all the good intellectual toys for the in between groups? OR why can't he have just been another girl because the general consensus is that girls are so much easier to shop for. We're much less discriminating at that age, what can I say? (I kid. He's my only nephew and he's probably the most awesome boy I know. And I am not just biased because he's my Godson.)

Alas, I have a nine year old nephew who is highly intelligent and creative and so basically nothing was good enough for him. You catch my drift?

Meanwhile, side effect Day Two were a very short anxiety attack in the Virgin megastore (but who doesn't get those) and the usual cotton mouth. I find that I already have more energy than on the Paxil which came in handy because after I got home from shopping I had two hours of ironing to do for the family - I think every shirt the boys and Host Dad owned - and I still needed to pack. Thankfully my short nap on the train refreshed me just enough to make it through. My mood is decidedly up, with only a few blips around dinner time which probably has more to do with being hungry than depressed. I am damn near normal.

And NOW! NOW I AM OFF! I'm fairly certain I haven't forgotten anything integral and even though my head is throbbing from the celebratory wine I imbibed whilst packing and chatting with family and friends last night, I couldn't possibly be MORE excited.

Guys - After a year and a half I'm going home.

See you on the other side of the pond!