Conflicted

I started this post out as a Love/Hate, but when my first Love/Hate read: "Love: That I'm going to New Orleans on a service trip tonight. / Hate: That I'm going to New Orleans on a service trip tonight," I decided that another route was in order.

So ahem. Yes. I am leaving to go to New Orleans tonight. I'm chaperoning (with five other adults) twenty-five high school kids while we drive seventeen hours from Virginia down to NOLA to paint houses.

And that, lovely readers, is exactly how much information I know about this trip. I have tried my best not to be all anal Mary Frances MUST KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS RIGHT THIS SECOND about this trip, but I have a sneaky feeling that it hasn't worked, because, you know, I AM anal Mary Frances who must know all of the details right this second (remember when I wrote a five page document to Penelope about taking care of my dogs? YEA. Also, I color code Preston's socks. And all of the clothes in my closet (which are further subdivided by style and shade) are also color coded. And all of the handles on my mugs face the same way. It's a disease, people.).

I'm really excited about this trip, and I think that it will be an absolutely FANTASTIC experience, but if the vein in my head (which has been pulsing all week because INFORMATION I NEED INFORMATION) explodes before we get to New Orleans, the trip's going to get off to a rocky start.

Moral of the story: I need to learn to suck it up and go with the flow. And believe me, I am trying. I promise. I am trying. But the vein. just. won't. stop. pulsing.

***

That said, what's really making my stomach leap up from the pit of my stomach at regular five second intervals is the fact that I am leaving our little family for ten days. I know the dogs will be just fine, and that Preston will have plenty to do (hello, end of the year comments for fifty plus students), but it breaks my heart that I won't be here with them. I've never had a home I love as much, or where I am as happy, as this one, and I don't even want to think about how much I'm going to miss Pres, Callie, and Ness. I know that the ten days will fly by and that the experience will be really rewarding, but I'm already looking forward to coming back home, and having my three favorites waiting for me when I do.

And away I go.