"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined." Henry David Thoreau

Even with all the planning that I did, I was somewhat unprepared for the physical and emotional drain the preparations to move took. I am not complaining. I already tried that. Oddly, no one who knows me, or what I am doing was sympathetic! Their response was pretty much "O poor pitiful thing! All of this work to move to Italy!" Of course, I can't explain the mental and emotional trauma of examining EVERY single thing that you possess and making an assessment of whether to keep it and put it in storage, throw it away, or sell it. I guess sympathy is not what I was looking for, I was just trying to explain part of my "learnings" and unanticipated consequences, should someone I know attempt this in the future. Many thanks to my friends and family members who helped out! I could not have done it without you! Thanks to Paul and Kelly for taking 2 cats, and my piano and assisting with packing, Steve, Carla, Landon, and MacKayla for assistance in packing, selling some things, bringing champagne! and calling Ralph to assist with getting rids of odds and ends! Thanks to Ralph also! Thanks to Will for driving a truck with me and 2 cats to Florida to stay with Nick. Thanks to Nick for taking on Skittles and Edgar! Thanks to Mom and Dad for a place to stay and all your support, and assistance with packing and the move, and a home for my grandfather clock. Thanks to Gail for giving some of my nicest possessions a beautiful home. Thanks to Connie, Michele, and Erika for a fantastic birthday party weekend in NYC. Thanks to Amy, Betty and Cheryl for another great weekend in NYC!

One big learning.....everyone you know, and even some people you will be come acquainted with during the process wants to help and to be a part of making your dreams come true. It's fabulous!

All of my things are sold....my house, all of my possessions (except for what is contained in a 10 x 10 storage unit), my cats have been given away, and I am living with my parents during the week, and traveling on the weekends. Spending as much time as possible with friends before I go. The reason for the extra time here was because I was unsure about the visa process, selling my house, packing up etc. As it turns out, I have about 4 extra weeks, which I am enjoying.....even though I feel slightly displaced, and anxious to be in Italy.

The first 2 weekends of this month I spent in NYC, and this weekend, I am visiting Will in San Francisco. Here are some photos from NYC....more to come.....