"All my bags are packed..."

This will be my last day in the states and I feel it will also be one of the most trying, as it is 3:30 in the AM and I am having trouble sleeping--too excited about my trip to even be superstitious about the hour that I am currently up (anyone that knows me really well knows that I am easily uneased by the supernatural--and if I ever were to find myself up at 3:00 in the morning I would shut my eyes tight and hope to fall asleep in short time!). If this sounds odd, it has a long accompanying story.

Yesterday I found myself gathering all the last minute items I could remember to get a hold of, including an FSU shirt (so others in the program might spot me so I won't feel that I'm traveling completely alone), "Winter's Heart" by Robert Jordan for reading material while on the plane or waiting during the times between them, a CD of Italian for travelers and a small language guide, sketchbooks and a new album to listen to on my iPod (ask me on facebook if you must know what it was! : P).

Unfortunately, I forgot to stop by the bank and also pick up some notebooks (I will be taking classes while I'm over there and it would be good to take notes for them!), so I will have to combat traffic and run these errands in the morning. Gladly, I did find my shiny (and awesome) Target Credit Card so I will not be in as much of a pinch while I'm over there, as the bank recommended that I not use my debit card.

Last night Karl and I had lunch together and went light on dinner and after he took me to all the places I had to get. We met up with a friend who had a "mission" for me and I gladly accepted the challenge--to deliver a letter to a person he met while he was in Florence last year. I'm excited about the prospect and I hope I will be successful in this endeavor!

The other reasons this day will be trying are because the majority of it will be spent in airports and also because I will be saying my goodbyes to my family and Karl. I'm glad we live in the Internet age and will still be able to communicate despite the distance.

Even though this is my last evening here before the journey... I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm really truly going to Italy--one more story before I close out:

I called my grandmother Monday after work because I had the memory of receiving a postcard from her and my grandfather's cruise in Europe years back with a picture of the Trevi Fountain of Rome on it. She said that they threw in coins for my little sister and I, and the legend of the fountain is that by throwing coins it ensures a trip back to Rome. My coin is calling!

"Fare thee well, though I go 10,000 miles..."