I'm leaving, on a jet plane...

So, tomorrow I leave for Zambia.  I still kind of don't believe it.  Like last time, when they close the plane doors and we start taxing down the runway it will probably feel like I'm really going.  Right now, it just feels like lots of stupid crap to still do.

If ever you needed an illustration into the difference between the Tall One and I, look no further than our packing styles.  Me?  I started on Saturday- I crossed things off my list as I put them in so I wouldn't crumble into an OCD mess by neurotically checking my backpack to make sure I put my passport in there.  The same pocket.  Like, 17 times.  So far, I'm doing good- I've only checked twice.  But there's still lots of time.  My clothes are all arranged nice and I could rifle through my bag blindfolded and find what I'm looking for.  The Tall One?  He'll start laundry tonight at about 12:45am (if he's feeling kicky), dry the last load at about 1:45pm tomorrow afternoon and then pack in just enough time to make it to south SC where we're all meeting to carpool at 3:30pm.  I would be a WRECK.  And you know what sucks?  He won't forget anything.  Check back periodically while I'm gone and you can keep up to date on all the crap I'm going to forget.

And I'm sad about leaving my garden.  It's been doing so well.  My Better Boy tomato plant is nearing historic size and there are so many green tomatoes.  I hate to leave all my babies to the dangers of snails, small green caterpillars and the heat.  But mostly, it's the snails I hate.  They leave their slimy silver trails for you so you know what they ate the night before.  I have a zero tolerance policy on snails at this point.  My eradication method of choice is to stand on the planter and spike them over the fence onto the sidewalk.  Brutal, but effective.  If I catch them in the act of eating MY food- they get the salt.  I'm a cutthroat heartless wench!!!!  Anyway, the illustrious Christy "amniotic shower" Culp has agreed to babysit my garden- and I'm paying her deposit in advance with a bag of lettuce.  She has a garden, lives relatively close and "gets" my garden neuroses.  Best part about this, she had her husband/personal secretary call me this morning to ask what my favor was- and when I told him, he said she figured it as such and had already agreed to it.  And if you need to know what "amniotic shower" means, let's just say if I experience one during my labor & delivery/OB rotation next semester, there's going to be some very long angry posts on this site.

I'm really excited to go.  It's going to be an incredible opportunity and I'm going to learn so much.  Plus, the reality check is always welcome- when people eat maybe one meal a day and die from treatable diseases, it puts things in perspective at home.  But at this point, I need to get through departing.  I started getting a cough last night, and I think I'm steadily progressing towards a cold.  Seriously?  I spend 4 months straight getting barely enough sleep, stressing out, taking care of people with pneumonia and influenza and I stay perfectly healthy.  But two days before I leave the States on a freaking medical trip and I get a cold?!?  Somebody's got a sense of humor.   But I'm not quite laughing yet. 

So, this will be my last post before I go.  I will be updating this while I'm there hopefully, and you can tune into our official blog (contributors are from the team of people from The Shoreline Church)- the link is at the top on the right hand side.  Everybody have a great Fourth of July for us- it will be my first Fourth not trying to see fireworks through a fog bank.  Keep us in your prayers and we'll be back on July 7th!!!