2 days and counting...

I can't believe I am a mere 48 hours away from hitting the road.  I still have so much to do.  The anxiety has not set in yet. I am sure that will come on Saturday when I am peeling out of Hoopeston.  My co-workers made my last shifts at Carle amazing.  There were lots of hugs and good byes.  I love my Carle co-workers and will miss them dearly.  They taught me so much about emergency nursing and I will cherish all the education that was given to me by them.  I have also been blessed to be able to have some really goodbye dinners with all of my loved ones.  No matter what happens on this journey it is so good to know that I am loved and that there are people at home thinking and praying for me to have a successful adventure over the next weeks, months and years!!  Off to more laundry and packing...

Moments that change your life

There are moments in everyone's life that change the way you think, feel, behave and how you view the world.  I wouldn't be getting ready to start this new adventure if I hadn't been on vacation this past fall.  I am just a short 10 days away from hitting the road and I can honestly say that if I had not vacationed in Grand Cayman this past October, I might not be taking this chance in life.  I am posting a verse from a healing healthcare class I took several years ago, that was also a life changing moment.  I still have my starfish and I carry it with me most days...

HE STARFISH STORY

Once there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing? "The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean." "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man. To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die." Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!" At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley 

6 weeks and counting

I have a little over 6 weeks before I hit the ground running to Portland.  I am starting to feel some major anxiety when I stop and think about all of the things I need to do before I leave.  As of yesterday, I have every piece of paperwork and test modules I needed to complete, turned in and signed off.  This is a huge relief, I have been running all around 3 counties for the past month getting medical records, drug tests, legal documents all turned in.  Now all of my attention can focus on my Christmas shopping, saying good bye to all of my loved ones and packing up my car.  I actually started a packing list. This is completely out of character for me, I am the type of girl who wakes up the morning of and throws a bunch of stuff in boxes or suitcases and hit the road.  I am actually putting a lot of thought into what I need to take because I don't want my mom to have to mail anything 2500+ miles.  My packing list includes the bare minimum when it comes to moving. Four plates and four bowls, a set of pots and pans and bake ware, four bath towels, four washcloths etc...where I am having the most difficult time ( and I know no one will be shocked by this) is deciding on clothes and shoes.  All these questions are going through my mind, what's the weather like, how many pairs of shoes do I need, which of what style shoes do I take, what color can I wear to work, do I take going out clothes, and casual clothes, should I just take every piece of clothing I own ( the answer to this is no, I am not hauling 20 baskets of clothes across the country or up and down stairs every time I move)!!!! I guess I will figure it all out closer to the time I leave, if not, I will fall back on my old stand by motto...Just go buy new ;-)...

My mom is, to put it nicely, less than thrilled that I am moving to Portland.  In order to ease some of her anxiety on me leaving I have asked her to drive out with me and then she will fly home.  Hopefully with her spending some time in Portland she will feel better about me moving there for 13 weeks.  This vacation for her has prompted me to do a lot of research on Portland.  Portland is the 3rd safest city in the Continental US, it has an amazing public transportation system, the median temp for winter is about 50 degrees and it hardly snows (of course I am trading snow for rain), and it has all of my necessary stores, MAC, target, trader joes, many many many microbreweries, and people keep telling me you can smoke pot out there too ( not that I know anything about this).  Everyone I talk to loves Portland, it wasn't my first choice but I glad that I am going and getting to spend time in the Pacific Northwest for a few weeks.  I have so much I want to do while I am out there, I hope I can fit it all in!!!

Hitting the ground running

I have decided to follow my dreams and my heart.  I am quitting my job, packing my car and heading west.  First stop...Portland Oregon.  I am starting travel nursing and have always wanted to go to the Pacific Northwest, Portland needed nurses and everything else just worked out.  I am nervous as hell and more excited than any kid on Christmas morning.  My last day at my current job in 1/2/13 and my first day at my new job is 1/14/13.  Each assignment is for 13 weeks, I figured I can do anything for 13 weeks!! So stayed tuned and see how my new adventure unfolds....

Introduction

Everyone always says that life comes full circle. I remember the day that I decided that I wanted to move back to my childhood home and the town I had worked so hard to get away from. It was two days before my 31st birthday and I was sitting in a restaurant with a friend enjoying a birthday dinner and drinks when my brother's girlfriend called to tell me I was going to be an "Aunt." There were a flood of emotions but under it all, I knew that I wanted to be there for every moment that I could. A couple of months later my brother and his girlfriend were married and that is when I decided that I was definitely moving back to the small town and the home I grew up in. I had spent the last 13 years living in various cities and time zones, eating at the best restaurants, going to concerts and sporting events, spending time in bars and clubs. Living the life of a high roller (at least I thought I was one). Moving back to a town that didn't even have a stop light was going to be an adjustment, but here I am almost a year later living and loving the quiet life. I am working my dream job in an emergency room at a level one trauma center and teaching facility, spending as much time with my niece as I can and trying to decide what the next step in my life is, I can't live in my childhood bedroom forever....

Courtney