I am currently finishing up packing for New Orleans, which is 9 hours away(bus to airport), and after a series of jumping on my suitcase I finally got it to close. By my standards and history of traveling I have underpacked and I’m super proud of that! However, I’m pretty sure that by everyone else’s standards I have probably overpacked. I did my best, and since I can lift it, it’s probably under the weight limit… I hope. Everyone seemed to get anxious and excited during the tool workshop yesterday, and I think it was there that it dawned on everyone that we would be leaving soon. Everyone really seemed to be having fun with it, and I continue to pat myself on the back for keeping all 10 fingers and toes. I’m really excited for tomorrow because I love to fly and travel and it happens so rarely for me, and I feel like we’re going down to New Orleans to do some really great things for people who need it, especially with the holidays no near. It is easy for people to forget the privelages and blessings that we all have, and unfortunately it is not until we lose those things that we truly appreciate them. I’ve been lucky to have the family and things that I have grown up with and it is time to help out those who need it more. I am excited to work with the families who will be living in these homes, and I am excited to get down in the dirt and fix up the wetlands that we’re slowly destroying. Although if I find any animals that need some help, I may return with a zoo. My parents just don’t know that yet. I’m excited to encounter the good things and even the difficult things that are ahead for us all, and I’m really excited to share these experiences with such a great group of people, some that I have known for years, and others I am just now getting to know. Two weeks seem like such a long time to be somewhere so different from Union, or even little Rhode Island, but I know that on December 19th’s plane ride home I’ll be looking back thinking that it went too quickly, but I’m ready to take it all in and do my best to help out however I can. Maybe I’ll even get a little muscle out of it! So far, so good though, I have managed to close my suitcase.