The Journey Inward

G drove me to the Portland airport, back through those dark, windy roads with the imposing pines closing in on either side that are so beautiful in the daytime and so spooky in the dark. I was once again so tearful to leave her, as I was the other others.

The Portland airport was delightful. There is a little branch of Powell’s bookstore there that was fun to browse. I got a chai latte and sat and talked to Sara, grateful to be only one hour apart rather than our usual 8. I did my 1 to 2 mile walk of an airport, knowing I will be sitting for a long time.

So many feelings were flooding through me and I just let them all come. Where my analytic mind used to try to label, sort, organize, and solve these feelings, my surrendered mind allows them to move freely through me, not judging or evaluating, but just feeling, knowing there is a place for every one of those emotions.

The flight back was nice and I finished my book from Suz. I enjoyed it very much! And it just reminded me how very much I appreciate and am grateful for my friends, my chosen family.

I got in Saturday night and Jan and Mark came to pick me up. Jan got out of the car and we both started screaming. Mark was laughing at us and I told him I was offended that he did not show the same degree of excitement to see me! It was a lovely ride home catching up with them.

Liz and Pete met us at Jan and Mark’s. We had delicious tea and treats and the five of us had such a nice time. Dana came home and we got to visit with her, as well.

Exhausted, I sat in the back of Liz and Pete’s truck on the way home, for the first time feeling the flurry of my travels. But that was short-lived, because once home, I stayed up quite late packing.

The next morning, I saw my dear Katie over coffee and tea. We got right to the heart of all things living, as we always do. We don’t need to go through the pleasantries, even if it’s been a few months. We just hop right in because our bond is our placeholder.

Tom came later and we grabbed a cup of coffee and caught up about the holidays. I showered quick when I got back, Liz dragged my heavy bags downstairs and MJ arrived to take me to the airport.

I am so blessed with these friendships and I felt the weight of leaving all of them again. I certainly have friends here in South Africa, but we don’t have the history or the intimacy or the rawness yet. Leaving these people was hard.

We checked my bags curbside, which was a delight, and then I discovered I had some sort of fast pass that got me right through security. Back in an airport, which I love, I had 2 1/2 hours to eat and roam and get my steps in before the 14 1/2 hour flight back. It had been less than 24 hours since I’d arrived at Newark Airport.

And then we were down the runway and off. Back to my adopted home.