Headin' Out!

I've always been a sucker for airplanes, ever since I was little.  The tray tables and tiny bathrooms and panels of buttons on the arm rests meant that we would soon be in tropical paradise.  Maui with my Grandma and Grandpa, and the beach.  But destination aside, I really and truly looked forward to the trip as it's own special treat.  I thought the tiny bathrooms were so fun, I loved getting to play with all of the buttons on my very own arm rest, my mom would always pack us a bag of surprise toys and activities to keep us busy on the 6 plus hour flight, and sometimes there would be a movie.  But my favorite part: the tray tables!  Don't ask me why, but I was enamored with the fact that I had my very own table to put up and down whenever I wanted (and I did…repeatedly).  Anyway, the whole thing is very much romanticized in my mind-I'm sure if I had to get on a long flight to Maui today, I'd complain like all the other adults (maybe).  

Today, I find myself on a train, instead of a plane.  I've never traveled on a train before, and I was kind of excited by how glamorous it sounded, but a little distracted by the prep for my trip, and the fact that the train is taking me to a flea ridden hotel. :)  But, now that I am on the train, and we are going somewhere, I would like to report that it is as thrilling as a plane (although I'm a grown up now, so it's a little hard to compare).  I am telling you, there are tray tables!  There are tiny bathrooms (I just used one)!  There is an actual dining car, and a parlor car, and apparently a lounge in the downstairs part of the car I'm in.  Oh yeah, I'm totally upstairs in this train car!  I know it's probably not normal for an adult to get this excited about a train ride, but then, my career choice isn't normal either. :)  As an adult, I do appreciate the extra leg room and carry on storage that planes don't have.  And did I mention that I got to go up a tiny flight of stairs to get to me seat??  So cool! :)

Anyway, I'm choosing to revel in the excitement of this train ride, because it's probably the most luxurious, vacation-y thing about this entire trip.  I was nervous and kind of charged up all day, but now that I'm in this cozy train car, with the dark stormy weather out side, I'm feeling quite relaxed and  almost excited. :)  It's crazy, because I feel like I've been waiting and getting ready for so long.  We tested out of school a month ago, and then we were waiting for a trainer, and then Ariel was going, and then she was gone and I was getting ready…and waiting…and I've gotten so good at the waiting part, that it felt kind of bizarre today to be actually packing up and really leaving.  I felt like I was moving, except that I was leaving my house looking just like normal (although cleaner than usual).  I packed up what felt like all of my earthly belongings into several duffle bags, one of which is probably big enough for me to camp out in, (if I'm forced to sleep outside tonight because of the fleas). :)  So the whole thing has felt surreal up until now…it kind of still does.  But it feels like a relief, now that something is actually happening.  I'm doing it!  I'm off and away!  I've never been a person to choose adventure, if I had any say in it at all.  I actually spend a lot of energy avoiding new things, so this is a different experience for me.  It feels weird.  Not bad so far, just…different.  I can see that it will definitely be a growing experience, and I will be a different person when I come out of this, than I was when I went in.  And that is good, that is what I want.  This has the potential to be very empowering. :)

PS-You will all be happy to know that I have spoken to my trainer, who I will meet up with on Thursday.  She is a woman (yay!), and sounds nice and helpful (yay!).  I have been told that she is a smoker, so I am hoping that won't make my month with her too miserable.  But I honestly would rather deal with that than living in a tiny space with a man I don't know.  I am choosing to assume that she will be nice and courteous, and I will barely notice the smoking at all.  :)  

In other glad news, I got to see my long lost cousin today, and give her several big hugs, which was great!  She and her trainer were driving through town a little before my train left, so I got to eat lunch with them, and see their ENORMOUS truck.  In case she doesn't tell you, she is doing really well, I think she might be a natural. :) 

Ok, that's enough writing for now.  I need to spend a little quality time with the magazine I purchased especially for this train ride.  Goodbye to all of my loyal supporters in Portland.  To those of you that I didn't get to hug in person before I left, I'm sending you internet hugs!  I will miss all of you in the Land of the Ports, but I will see you again before you know it.  Hold onto your hats folks, here we go!

-Amanda