Specchio, specchio

There are only a couple of days until I leave and I've been so busy, as you could imagine. I had a great visit to Raleigh (and Greenville) where I got a lot done, but now sono alla casa mia, but there is still so much to do so! Every night before I go to sleep, I review what's finished and make note of the things I still have to do. I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now and you'd think I'd be making progress, but the list only seems to grow. Ma non c'e' problema--the things I need to finish will happen and the things that won't...won't. I've got a plane ticket, a passport, and a visa. It wouldn't be very economical, but I could go over there with nothing else and be a happy person! Maybe I'd be a little cold, but I'd still be pretty happy.

Preparing has made me pretty busy, but some things have come up that have lead me to slow down a little. I think it's important, especially now, for me to recognize what's going on, what's happened, and what might happen. I try not to spend too much time on the future, although that's my instinct. But now it seems impossible for me to be planning anything. My life seems to be stuck in the present (or rather the very near future): what I will do in Italy. I can't predict what experiences I'll have or how I'll change, but most of you know that I've wasted a little bit of time trying.

As for the past, it's been interesting to think about how my life has changed. College has truly been an opportunity for growth in all areas and I could not be more grateful to be able to attend Meredith. Every once in a while I can't help but wonder what things would have been like if things had or hadn't happened, but then realize that I wouldn't be the same. Yes, it is a cliche' but I realize I am who I am because of the experiences I've had. One change or another and I'd be even the slightest bit different. So now I'm here, just a matter of hours away from my big trip, ready to embrace whatever happens.