The great adventure...

Well, where do I start? In the midst of what feels like total chaos, there is the calm of knowing you'll soon be on a bus for 18 hours, free to think about it all. 

I'm finally done preparing the headpiece and veil and gift for my brothers wedding.  Bittersweet, between thinking this is for my brother's bride ...and ...so he can join the military.  Sweetbitter, more like. 

I also followed a huge story today with live feed from Egypt. Their entire country pretty much protested the Muslim Brotherhood out of existence, an overthrew a corrupted official, in the name of democracy and non-violence. 

That was very cool, besides it's not every July 4th eve that you get to be instantly connected to such a patriotic revolution climaxing on the other side of the world. (Let alone getting to see live feeds from Egypt on any given day.) 

As I settle down tonight, my mind still reviewing all the details of packing your bag for a day long bus ride and four days of family, the computer clock and Facebook wall continually counts the seconds as they are posted and passed. Photos roll by and conversations are skimmed or missed, but I retain only the list of to-do's, and the promise of seeing family. 

Hard to think about much else than the journey when you're just sitting around waiting to start it. 

What am I going to do with myself for the first half of the day where I'll be free, knowing the future holds hours upon hours of being pinned to a funky seat on wheels?

Just try to dream, like I'm already there.

  

I'm gunna be cheesy now...

I'd like to tell my brother, particularly, 

But also all my siblings, and friends to go on their own adventure, as long as they promise to keep in touch with me, and as long as they keep their feet when they step onto the road, or there's no knowing were they might be swept off to.  ;)  

Below is another piece of Tolkien inspired advice, from The Hobbit (cartoon) in the from of a song. Think about the whole story the author tells after what he actually lived though, I find it helps you look at the big picture of your own journey. 

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
The chances, the changes are all yours to make.
The mold of your life is in your hands to break.

The greatest adventure is there if you're bold.
Let go of the moment that life makes you hold.
To measure the meaning can make you delay;
It's time you stop thinkin' and wasting the day.

The man who's a dreamer and never takes leave
Who thinks of a world that is just make-believe
Will never know passion, will never know pain.
Who sits by the window will one day see rain.

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
The chances, the changes are all yours to make.
The mold of your life is in your hands to break.

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.