I want to get away. . .

We'll be leaving soon for a much anticipated vacation. I would like to think we're ready, but I suspect we'll be scrambling a bit tonight and tomorrow. Good news is that the suitcase is packed, the bad news is the suitcase is p.a.c.k.e.d. And the cat is sleeping on top of it. No room for orange cats, I need to cram a pair of sandals in there instead.

On another note, I'm amazed today at how grateful I am for my "chosen" family. My chosen family being my gaggle of friends. I got a chance to spend some quality time with one of them last night, Kissed Knitter. She's always so kind to welcome me to her home, feed me and listen to me. She will never know how valuable her friendship is, how I so welcome to talk to her and how free I am around her. She might regret the latter.

And then there is my dear friend that makes it possible for us to travel at all. She's our official cat sitter. Knowing we're leaving the house and our pets in capable hands frees our minds to worry about something else. You know someone is a good friend when they offer to clean your litter box for eight days.

Of course, then there are about the only two people on the face of the earth that would put up with us for eight days, Needlefingers and Pilot. I hope they know what they've gotten themselves into. In all honesty, we're thrilled to be taking a vacay with them, and are hoping they'll still speak to us after eight days of me asking millions of questions, seeking out fountain Diet Cokes and perhaps snoring in my sleep. I hope they'll still talk to me when I ask to have my photograph made next to Laura Ingalls Wilder's desk wearing my official "I *heart* Laura" shirt.

I can't quit this post without mentioning another special person who I have come to count on. My colleague and dear friend has been an incredible resource during all of this house hunting and selling. From listening to my babbling about the "what ifs", to assisting with research, to attending open house after open house, carrying heavy boxes of books and generally being the pillar of strength, she's done it all and I am eternally grateful.

You are all members of my chosen family. And I hope you are still my friends when I ask you to load up all of my stuff and move it across town, not once, but twice.