The Opportunity of a Lifetime

I'm sorry there was no blog last week, but things have gotten a little crazy around here lately. There may not be regular blogs for a while. I will try to keep you guys updated from time to time, but I make no promises. You see, tomorrow at this time I will be on an airplane bound for California.

This may seem rather sudden, and believe me it is. Nine days ago I received an email from Farm Sanctuary stating that they were in dire need of interns at both of their California shelters. They wanted to know if I would be able to come and help out. At first I was in complete shock. I mean how often does someone ask you to pick up your entire life and fly to the other side of the country in less than two weeks. Then I was ecstatic. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to California and had just never had a good excuse before. Now here was an opportunity to work with an organization I love, doing the one thing that really matters to me, and go to the one place I have always wanted to go. Finally I was scared shitless. I have never been on an airplane before. I have never been that far from home before. I would have to quit my job without giving a two week notice, something I would never have considered doing before. Most importantly, I would have to find a way for Riley and Petunia to be cared for while I was gone.

I spent the whole next day having a mini-nervous-breakdown. I had no idea where to even begin getting ready for this. Somehow, probably for the first time in my life, everything just sort of fell into place. My dad agreed to take care of Riley and Petunia for me (Thank you Dad!). My boss didn't even get angry when I told her why I was leaving (Thank you Cheryl even though I know you won't read this!). My mom helped me book my flight and plan all of the things I would need to take (Thank you Mother!). My dad and my sister are going to drive me to the airport even though we have to leave at 4am (Thank you Caty and again Dad!). Perhaps most surprisingly, last night I packed all of the clothes I had planned to take and they all fit into ONE suitcase (Thank you gods of last-minute packing!).

So yes, tomorrow morning I will be on an airplane, for the first time in my life, on my way to Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres on the outskirts of LA (Thank you Farm Sanctuary!).