Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Farewell For Now

Glorious: having a striking beauty or splendor that evokes feelings of delighted admiration.
That is how I would describe my life in my final few weeks on the island. Granted, this entire year has been quite special and has evoked many feelings of delighted admiration. However, my farewell (for now) to my family, friends and home in the magnificent Puget Sound will go down in history as one of the greatest farewells I've ever experienced thus far.

I was fortunate enough to be around for the start of school for my nieces and nephew. I got to watch my youngest niece walk into her first day of kindergarten! As well as my 7 year-old niece begin 2nd grade. My 13 year-old niece begin 8th grade and my 15 year-old nephew begin 10th grade! I remember each of them being so tiny, so vividly. They're all growing so quickly and are such funny, imaginative, smart, sweet kids.
My last day on the island I swam roughly 3.5 miles with my incredible little brother - from the island to the mainland.

Wearing wetsuits and paced by two boats we began our swim. We got into the water from the island at 12:22pm and stepped onto the shore in Steilacoom at 3:22pm. Exactly 3 hours! Killed it. We had two boats pacing us; one on either side and we didn't cross paths with one jellyfish. We had one seal swim around about a hundred yards away, but it kept at bay and soon disappeared into the great unknown. The swim proved to be fairly easy. Salt water definitely made us more buoyant and helped our pace. We didn't once stop for a break or have any problems. At the end of the 3 hours we were certainly ready to be finished, but were also very pleased to have made it without incident!

I couldn't conjure up a better way to leave the island. It felt brilliant to have accomplished the task we'd talking about and had been working up to all summer. Little brother is a beast! We had a blast.
I tried to attach a few pictures, but I'm updating this via my phone... so I have no idea if this will work.

This was the first time, in quite some time, that I've spent such an extended period back on the island. It was such a gift to be surrounded by my family and to be reminded of all of the greatness we share both together and separately.

It was a summer of much growth and I was pleased to leave on such a happy and harmonious note.
Delaware/Maryland/Pennsylvania have welcomed me very kindly and I am excited to soak in all that surrounds me for the next ...however long...

Fall is coming quickly and balance is making its way as the equinox nears. And so is baby Ellie! We're eagerly awaiting her arrival and she is already one very loved little girl. She'll have a very excited crowd cheering the moment she makes her first appearance. Yay Ellie!