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7:44am  Friday, November 29, 2013.  Just took off from JFK heading to Cape Town thru London’s Heathrow.  It’s a gorgeous morning, bright sun, crispy chill in the air, and I’m still pleasantly stuffed like the turkey I ate last night.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I couldn’t have planned my last supper any better.  Perfectly roasted turkey and gravy drippings from the pan, dumplings that we all fight over because we only get them once a year, sweet potato pie with toasted marshmallows that my dad has perfected and should be selling in stores, and of course Iris’s sinful chocolate roll for dessert.  It’s the same every year, and I couldn’t be happier.  Some things are perfect the way they are.  There’s a comfort in knowing what to expect, and always having those expectations met.  I have one of those families that I LOVE to be around, and I’m so THANKFUL that I had my two beautiful kids, Michael and Rachel, my brother Adam, my Dad and wicked step-monster Iris, and our extended family to spend my last day and night in NY with.

We hugged long and tight as we said our goodbyes at the gate this morning, and I turned and walked toward the unknown with my backpack on my back and a huge grin on my face.

Oh. My. God. I pictured this walk a million times and thought about how I might feel.  For an instant my eyes started to tear and the anxiety heightened a bit, but it almost instantly went back down.  I’m walking…I’m walking…I’m doing this. And then the strap on my backpack broke.  Yeah, really.  The pack that I researched for days, read all the comments and compared to tens of other packs. I hadn’t even made it through security and I’m already down to one shoulder strap. Worse things could happen…let’s wait and see.

I’m flying Virgin Atlantic – beautiful plane, really comfy seats, pretty tight leg room, but the seats recline deeply.  The first leg of my trip isn’t too long – 6 hours – and the plane is only 40% full, so lucky for me I’ve got my own row to myself!  I’m ready for this trip.  Took a deep, cleansing breath as we raced down the runway and just let it all go.  I’m open to what’s next.  Not afraid at all.  Excited, curious, surprised at myself in a “wow, are you crazy or actually cool?” kinda way.  I wonder why I felt the need to give it all up in order to go.  I guess I needed to cleanse the clutter from a 20 year business that has left me burned out and tired of the bullshit, and move it out in order to see what lies ahead, and I needed to physically move myself out of a stagnant, unsatisfying life in order to make a real change.  Believe me, I didn’t really give it ALL up.  Some of “it” is sitting in a 10’x25’ box. But I did give up a pretty fab living situation, with incredible neighbors and friends that I otherwise wouldn’t have met had I not chosen that spot to rent just over 2 years ago.  Those friendships are solid and meaningful to me, and I know that they were built on being geographically desirable but will endure the physical separation. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude and love for the gifts of friendship that I have received these past 3 months as I planned this journey.  Dear, dear friends, new and old, have shared so much intense love and support for me, they’ve made it known that I am important in their lives in the most pure, honest exchanges, and it’s that incredibly positive energy which fuels me to go forward and find whatever it is that I will find. I only hope they know that there isn’t anything in the world that I need or want more than their love and friendship and how sacred and beautiful those relationships are to me. And how important it is to me that I can give it back to them.

Peace Train by Cat Stevens was playing in the airport”s Hudson News. This is what I heard:

“Now I’ve been thinking lately.

Thinkin’ about what is to come.

And I believe it could be

something good has begun.”

Mmmmm. 🙂

9:50pm London – ready for takeoff to Cape Town!  Heathrow airport is like Madison Ave.  Seriously, would you ever think of going to an airport to shop at Harrod’s, Chanel, Jo Malone, Salvatore Ferragamo?  So I sat down at the chic modern seafood & caviar bar that served only champagne, wine, or vodka along with arguably the best smoked salmon from the western shores of England. I ordered a russian vodka on the rocks with a twist of lemon, and a small plate of that delectable smoked salmon.  I was served a shot of vodka perched on a bowl of ice and a lemon with cheesecloth over it for pressing and keeping your hands cleanish. And a bill for $64.  Airport dining?  Tip if you travel out of London – you cannot bring more than 1 sandwich sized bag worth of 3 oz liquids, lotions, creams, etc. in your carry on.  They actually count stick deodorant as a liquid, as well as chap stick and lip gloss  I had to part with (aka “throw away”) about $75 worth of shit. Ugh. But of course, there’s always an upside.  Boarded the plane for Cape Town and got to sit next to an adorable Brit.  Married, but still….

Landed safely in Cape Town.  Gorgeous!! Wow, I’m here!!!

View of Table Mountain from my room at Cape Cadogan Hotel