DAY.ELEVEN> Hit the road, jack

The end of TBE is here and we depart. All day I can think of nothing else but getting on that road and continuing on to Vermont. I'm still not too sure what I'm doing there but I know I'm excited for whatever it is. Saying goodbyes were easy when you know you will speak soon. And so I take off on a scaled down version of my "Alaskan adventure" (reference to "Into the Wild" - if you haven't seen it, you should). Driving has always been fun for me but the first half hour was somewhat painful. I didn't know what it was but suddenly anticipation to arrive was knocking at the door and I can't believe I let it in! Anticipation will ruin you if not handled the right way. How did I handle it? I kicked it out. I started thinking and realizing more and more that carpe diem was old news. Those who know me, know what I'm talking about. It has been about carpe momento for the longest time but I was struggling with it!! Seizing the MOMENT - living for NOW - taking joy in the JOURNEY!! Where had I gone wrong?? I realized I wasn't enjoying myself because thoughts about what I'm going to do next and what road to take next and all that unnecessary stuff started filling my head. NOT TODAY JACK.

I cleared my mind of all that stuff and realized something. If we are living for this minute we are currently in right now nothing else matters. But at the same time I realized something else. IT. IS. HARD! I knew it was never easy but this trip was really making me practice what it meant to live one moment at a time. That's the trick though - practice. It's not a skill that is picked up in a day, but a lifestyle that is perfected over time.

I kept driving, and all of a sudden I was there. The next 2 1/2 hours felt like nothing and I was almost sad to arrive. But hey, Bennington, VT - here I am! Pretty cool feeling being in another state with nobody you know for miles around you. Makes you appreciate your loved ones a lot more. Also really nice trying new foods and meeting people with Vermontian accents. Is that a word?