The thing about packing

Packing can leaving you feeling one of two ways...sadness for the past you are leaving behind, or happiness for the future that lies ahead of you. And sometimes it's both.

As I sat in my room this weekend removing my belongings from every imaginable hiding space, I came across a drawer full of photo albums and pictures from, oh I don't know, my entire life history. And of course what should have taken me an hour or so to pack these certain items turned into 3-4 hours due to the slightly large detour I took down memory lane. And then it hit me like a pile of bricks..."I am really leaving," I thought to myself.

I don't think it has really sunk in yet that I am moving to an entirely different state in an entirely different region of the country...in less than a few weeks. It was only when I actually began the first step of the moving process (packing) that I realized how many wonderful people, places and memories I will be leaving behind.

I love Texas so much. Texans are some of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life, and I was blessed to be born and raised in a state that is full of them. I don't know what the future holds for me in Chicago but I do know one thing...Texas and its people will always hold a special place in my heart no matter what state, country, or continent God places me in. I am excited beyond measure to move to Chicago and begin this new chapter in my life. And maybe I will fall in love with the Windy City and never want to leave, but there will always be a part of me that will miss Texas and every aspect about it. Gertrude Stein once said "America is my country, but Paris is my home." And maybe someday I will feel that same and be able to say "Texas is my state, but Chicago is my home." Cheers to anyone who has ever lived...and loved in Texas!

P.S. The picture is of me and my big sisters...I am the cute one on the right :)

Fingerprints, drug test, medical exam, oh my!

Wednesday I flew to Chicago again for some last minute paperwork and testing stuff. My 3:30 a.m. day began with a wakeup call only 2 hours after I had fallen asleep at 1:30 a.m.. Followed by a drive to the airport to catch my 6:00 a.m. flight to the Windy City. I was pleasantly surprised when they bumped my seat up to FIRST CLASS baby! Apparently that's just how we employees roll. :) Being waited on hand and foot is nice...it reminds me of the good ol' days when I still lived with my parents. Oh to be a kid again!

Anywho, I arrived in Chicago to a breezy 72 degree temperature outside, bright and sunny...perfect! A wonderful change in comparision to our 105+ degree weather I left back in Texas. I took the United transport to the headquarters where I was taken into this tiny room with a handshake and a smile in exchange for my precious fingerprints. Book'em Dano! Needless to say I felt a little like a criminal about to get their clothes stripped off only to have them replace with an orange jumpsuit.

Next I had to take a taxi to get my medical exam done. I cleverly noticed the taxi driver was from India and I proceeded to introduce myself to him in the Hindi language. He was so surprised and impressed he nearly jumped out of his seat. We continued conversing in Hindi until we arrived at my destination around the corner. The medical exam was a piece of cake. This just in...I have perfect vision, well better than perfect. 20/13 to be exact, and that is without glasses or contacts. That's right ladies and gentleman, I could be a pilot. :)

That day was concluded when I made my way back to O'Hare and managed to get onto an earlier flight home. Back to the scorching Texas sun. Three weeks and counting until I leave!

Moving to Chicago!!!!

Sorry for the lack of posting but things have been crazy hectic around here. I finally heard from United about two weeks ago that my training will begin on September 17th and the best part is I found out my relocation city...it's CHICAGO!!! I am so excited.

I fly out to Chicago on Wednesday of this week to do some fingerprinting and medical examination. Then I have about three weeks, give or take, until I have to report to training for the next seven weeks. After that I will have a week to come home and move all my stuff up north to the Windy City. I am in New Mexico right now visiting the parentals before the big move. Then it is back to work and a busy schedule of packing and sweet goodbyes! Wish me luck. And stay tuned for the training highlights...it's gonna be a bumpy ride! :)