Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity!

I left MSP on Sunday, beginning a journey of two days and four flights, taking me more than 8,600 miles to a new hemisphere and the other side of the world.  As we took off I looked out over the snow covered cities and it occurred to me that the next time I see Minnesota will be in June and the scene will be an entirely different color.  I thought of the changes I will miss, the melting of the snow, the leafing out of the trees...  But then I remembered that I'm going to NEW ZEALAND, where it is currently SUMMER and I stopped feeling so sorry for myself.

But I'm getting ahead of myself...

 

My preparations for this trip began months ago, but it didn't actually begin to seem real until it was time to leave Mac.  As friends can testify this was hard, with many watery-eyed hugs.  I look forward to hearing from everyone, especially those who have promised to write me letters! (367 Leith St., Dunedin, Otago 9016, New Zealand)

I also had my family to say goodbye to and that was even harder.  The first time I flew by myself (to Texas for 10 weeks) it was a rather tearful goodbye.  I'll spare you the gory details of my waterworks this time around, let it suffice to say that I love them all very much and it's too bad there are no such things as rewards for frequent skype-ing.  I'm going to do my best to stay in touch without, you know, calling home every day or anything ridiculous like that. 

Goodbyes over it was time for my next challenge... MSP airport "security."  Fortunately, I passed through without incident (I think they go easy on tearful blondes.)  Unfortunately, as I "hopped off the plane at LAX" late (due to mechanical problems in Denver) I learned of a "passenger Allison Jackowbel" who was about to miss the last boarding call for her flight to Auckland.  Frantically, I tried to pass through international security at LAX at the speed of light.  This is an impossible task but was much speeded by my shutting down a TSA agent who wanted to swab my laptop (again) for god knows what...  "Um, excuse me that is MY laptop (taking it from her hands) and I am very late for my very expensive flight so NO, it is NOT ok with me if you put it through a secondary screening."  I don't think people talk back to them, ever, and she was shocked enough that she didn't stop me!

Flying over the Pacific I (unlike poor Kaija) had a chance to think about where I've been and where I'm going.  It dawned on me that this time last year I was in the Bahamas.  I also thought about the last time I was in NZ (14 years ago this month).  Thinking about all this led me to two conclusions: (1) I have a pretty nice life and (2) I have a tendency to live in the past and future rather than enjoying the moment.  My corresponding resolutions for New Zealand are to (A) stop worrying so much and (B) relax and smell the flowers.  If you find me deviating from these resolutions please send me a nice letter and some dark chocolate.

It is now 4 pm, 2 days, 1 sleeping pill and several thousand miles later and I am sitting in my new room in Dunedin wondering where to start.  My adventure has begun!  More soon ...

Much love,
Allison