Disney to Dallas!

Last week I went on a wonderful vacation with my family. My mom, grandma, cousin Nancy, and I spent 7 days at Walt Disney World, following my mom's carefully planned agenda nearly to perfection (thank you, storm, for ruining my chance to see Fantasmic). While I have been to Disneyland in California a couple dozen times (no exaggeration) since I was a baby, it does not compare to a week living entirely within the Disney property, a bubble where everything is accessible by bus or monorail and everyone smiles, waves, and high-fives you (often wearing a Mickey Mouse glove) and tells you to "have a magical day". Many people don't understand why we chose to spend a week just at Disney parks when there are other things to do in the area, but they aren't my family. Disney has been part of my family since my mom was a child and her family collected ride tickets before there was one ticket for admission. So many stories, jokes, and memories in my life revolve around Disneyana in a way that made me sure that we could spend a week there with no problem. Sure enough, it was a fun time, full of laughs, thrills, and happiness. The parks were as fascinating as I had hoped, and sharing them with my family made them that much better. It was so hard to leave the last day, and it was even harder to leave my family and come home. I have posted my best pictures elsewhere, but below are a couple in case anyone hasn't seen them yet.

The globe from my favorite show, IllumiNations, on the lake at Epcot

Mickey and Minnie in front of Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom

My family in front of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom- me, Mom, Nancy, and Grandma

I returned from Florida Sunday, and home Monday. After a busy workweek, I have finally turned my focus on the move. After some discussion, delays, and kerfuffle (my word of June, stolen from a friend), I have reserved a truck, recruited friends to help me load, found a friend to drive the truck, recruited family to unload the truck, and am finally sorting things so I can pack. In a month I will be working, and in two weeks I will be moving. I have two homework assignments, one test, one report revision, and one report translation until my coursework is complete. (We won't discuss the dissertation today.) I have started my goodbye lunches and am planning other gatherings. I am selling my extra furniture.

I am both excited and panicking.

I suppose that's why I'm awake. The panicking part, mostly. It's all overwhelming, sometimes. I haven't moved to a completely new city since I was in the Peace Corps 11 years ago, though I suppose I've at least visited this one. I have to work right up until the move, so I'm trying to balance everything. It's a good overwhelming- it's a new adventure, and I'm ready for it. I just hope the next two weeks all work as planned so that I start that adventure on the right foot!

Life was easier at Disney World :)