Day 54: A Fond Farewell

Day 54 has brought with it both joy and sorrow. This day was the day I departed from home again to make the trek back to the world of academia. It had come time to return to college. So a fond farewell was given to my beloved Commonwealth of Virginia.

The day, as it all too often does, dawned earlier than I would have liked. But so many things needed to be done and I had left too much to the last minute. My car had to be packed, all of my bags double checked to ensure I hadn’t forgotten anything, my chores had to be finished, my goodbyes said, and my route planned. Inevitably my family and I got out the door later than we would have liked and managed to forget several things in the process.

The road back to college was long, the drive totaling about 10 hours. However, it was filled with beauty. The road I often take leads me back into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia. Driving through them is always such a pleasure. They are beautiful to behold and live up to their name with the hint of blue surrounding them. Sunsets in the mountains are magical and, due to our late start, my family got to witness one. The mellowing colours of amber daylight mix with the vibrant hues of orange, red, and magenta as the sunset contrasts against the blue haze of the mountains.

At an ungodly hour of the night my family arrived at our cousins’ house. We had planned to stay the night and the following day with them, heading on the next evening. My cousins were waiting up and we talked late into the night about anything and everything. The youngest son of my father’s cousin (so my first cousin twice removed) had recently had a daughter and everyone was quite eager to see her in person. My second cousin once removed was quite the adorable baby. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a calmer baby, she didn’t fuss much and her cries were much quieter than the piercing screams of infants I had the unfortunate duty to watch over during an obligatory volunteer stint at a nursery. Throughout the years I have come to realize that family and friends mean everything to me, another reason why I call myself a hobbit.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons