Big Week!

It has been a big week! Here are some highlights:

Monday was my birthday...I turned the big 2-9. I had a great day - despite being required to report for duty at work. Actually, work was great. I didn't get any upset phone calls, and the office threw me a little party. My friend Olivia went to lunch with me, and then my parents and my friend Marie took me out for dinner at Ivanhoes. I resigned myself to being an official grown up after I found myself thrilled to finally receive a Swiffer Wet Jet for a gift. :) And socks.

Tuesday I branched out and drove to my sister's house. Note to those who don't know...I despise driving in cities and refused to do it most of the time. But I had a big trip coming up and the easiest way to start it was to spend the night at her house. I survived the drive...and didn't even throw up! It wasn't without its scary moments, but I did it.

While there...I watched the American Idol show. Obviously it's a little late now for a rundown, but I thought Melinda had a rocky start and Jordin had a super night. I thought Blake should have gone home...but I'll get back to that.

Wednesday I did another grown up thing and boarded a plane. Note to those who don't know...my feelings for flying are similar to my feelings for driving in cities. But my sister Julie and I decided we needed to visit Kansas ourselves, and with our work schedules, flying was the only way to go. (And I boarded the plane hoping it would not be my way to go. Or my time.)

The flights were very successful. I learned on this, my second adventure in flying, that flying as a well person is better than flying as a sick person. I didn't mind it nearly as much. We arrived in Kansas about noon and drove to meet my sister and niece for lunch before touring Greensburg.

I was nervous about how I would react to seeing all this in person. I'd heard it was worse than the pictures. But I think my parents, who told me that, underestimated the amount of time I'd spent looking at pictures online and watching the news. I was very prepared for what I saw. Seeing it live is overwhelming in that you can't turn to the right or to the left and get away from it, like you can on TV. It's literally everywhere. But I didn't even cry (close your jaws, those of you who know what a water works girl I am) - and I felt very prepared.

There are great signs of new life in this town. There's pain and hurt...and I won't minimize that, because to do so would be wrong. Life has forever changed and normal is now a very different thing than it used to be. But there are sprigs of hope. I'll blog more about it later.

Lori, Jeff, and Cassie have moved out of the house they initially stayed in and are now staying with a couple in a big old house with lots of character. I really like it. We're staying here with them, and I was able to get online for a bit to try to catch up on life in Bekahland and beyond.

I think I'll be able to get on here again before I go, so maybe I'll be able to put more coherent thoughts down. (I haven't slept well since Friday night, so my brain is gone.)

Just wanted to say hi! OH! And if you want to see what I would have written about American Idol results, had I been able to get online then, go over to Christina's post (she's a link on the side) and read her post. I "amened" it.