Last Entry in the USA

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So I am passing my last few hours in the United States so I thought I would write an entry. So much has happened in the past week. Sam and I flew to Houston and met my parents to see my cousin, Andrea's, wedding. Sam and I waited for my parents in the Hobby airport for two hours and tried, with complications to watch the OU game. We ended up having to go to two different restaurants and buying appetizers that we did not eat in order to watch the first half. We met my parents and went to our hotel. The wedding was the next day and it was beautiful. Andrea and Brett have been dating for something like four years and many of us have already been considering him part of the family. I was very happy that they made it work all through the chaos of graduation and getting jobs, houses, etc. I wish them the best of luck!

The wedding and reception were wonderful. It was very traditional, minus the barbecue dinner. I was happy to see that, but probably only in Texas! Sam and I would dance and spent the whole weekend together, enjoying our accidentally reserved suite and ginormous king sized bed. I got teary as we danced at the reception, and it slowly began hitting me that we were about to spend our last days together before I left.

When we returned home Monday night, I got ready to go to an acting class taught by a major casting director in OKC. I got five minutes out the door and turned around. I couldn't bear to spend any more time apart from Sam than I absolutely had to. We spent the evening watching a movie. I started packing on Tuesday... which was quite an ordeal. I found Charleigh to be the typical curious kitten. She decided that she wanted to go with me and I had a hard time keeping her out of the suitcase. I finished packing and Sam and I went out for our last date before we did not see each other for 3 1/2 months. We got dressed up and went to Pearl's Oyster Bar. Sam loved it, but it left something to be desired for me. Nonetheless, I made it through dinner without crying, which was quite an accomplishment since I had been either on the verge of tears or crying since we returned from Houston. After that, we went over to Lake Hefner to watch the sunset and Sam saw a shooting star. We then migrated to a nearby park to swing, which is one of our favorite pastimes. We ended the evening drinking champagne (sorry to those opposed to underage drinking, but frankly, I can die for my country so I can drink a beer) in a fort we made in our living room out of chairs and sheets. It was one of the most beautiful evenings of my life and I will never forget it. This whole experience has made me so close to Sam and made me realize how much I really have come to love him.

Wednesday was one of the hardest days of my life. I spent the day repacking and weighing my suitcases... which was insane. I ended up removing a good amount of items from my suitcase to avoid paying overweight fees at the airlines. I waited for Sam to get out of class and cuddled with Charleigh for the last time before leaving. Sam returned home and we attempted to watch a movie but found that both of our minds were elsewhere. We spent our last hours together laying on the floor with Charleigh and crying intermittently. It was like waiting for a battle. Sam's mom came down from Tulsa to take me to the airport with him, which was extremely helpful since neither of us were in the condition to drive. I hope Sammy doesn't mind me telling the world that he was crying, but he doesn't seem to worry too much about his macho appearance. We checked in at the airport and sat by the checkin counter until the last moment for me to cross through security. When it came time for the dreaded goodbye, we made our way to security. I felt like I was being led to the guillotine. Sam and I said a goodbye that would have put movie goodbyes to shame. We hugged and kissed and cried and made a general scene for all to see. I made my way through security trying to explain myself and not lose anything, including the passport that I had checked my bag for about twenty times. I don't know what kept me from turning around and running back to Sam. My feet should be thanked for the success of the journey for fighting the rest of my body that was yearning to turn around and call the whole thing off. I cried all the way from our seat until halfway through the flight.

I don't know what I will do without Sam. He has become such a huge part of my life that I feel like I am losing a limb or something. Of course, the rational part of my mind tells me that we have webchat and it's only 3 1/2 months, but I have never been too talented at listening to that part of my mind in situations like this. I know we will be fine, but I already miss him terribly. By the time I returned to Colorado to meet up with my parents I had such dark bags under my eyes that I looked like someone beat me or that I was completely messed up on some sort of insane drug.

I felt much better waking up this morning. I am extremely excited to go, despite the horrors of leaving Charleigh and Sam. I think that it has not quite hit me yet that I will soon be living in a new country. I can't seem to get past the troubles of getting there, like packing, exchanging currency and leaving everyone I know and love to embark on a journey where I know no one. I am not worried about making friends... I have never had a problem with it. I just feel like I am on the edge of my life changing forever. This has just been an intense amount of all different emotions coming all at once. I don't think that I will find stability until I return to the US, but this has been my dream for as long as I can remember. When I was sad I would look at books about the UK and Ireland, and in less than 24 hours I will be there. I really am lucky. I have love and adventure in my life. I just wish that they were on the same continent.

So that wraps up my last entry in the US for awhile. I will keep everyone posted on everything I do!

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Photos

Sam and I at the wedding
Sam and I got all dressed up for the wedding.

Cousins
All of the cousins except Jera.

Dancing
Sam and I share one of our last dances.

Charleigh
Charleigh loves laying upside down.

Sam in the fort
Sam peeking out of the fort that we made on our last night together.

Family Portrait
Sam and I holding an angry black fluff that wanted to be put down.

Luggage
This is everything that I am bringing with me!

Comments

[Mom]

You are Special
This was so beautiful! You have a huge heart