I Made It!

This post is a little late, but hey better late than never right? Dad and I left Missouri on Friday morning around 8:15 or so. Talk about an emotional morning with lots of crying. Thursday night began the really emotional time. Rex threw a going away party for Adam (another GA who left today) and me that all of the athletic trainers were invited to. It was a great time. Of course we left there and decided we needed to make a trip to the Deuce. One last go 'round for me. (Even though we had a going away party there on Tuesday night...haha). My dad went with us anf finally got to see the infamous Deuce. We had so much fun. Around 11:30 Dad and I decided we needed to head to bed, so we left. I had shed many tears by the time we walked out the door. Saying goodbye to all the GAs who have basically been my family the past two years was so hard. And of course it was hard saying goodbye to all of our friends that work at the Deuce...there are so many people there that I will miss. Friday morning I got up early to go to the facilities to tell Tara bye because she had to work soccer camp and couldn't make the festivities the night before. Saying goodbye to Tara & Casey were two of the hardest things to do. Tara and I aren't really sure how we are going to survive living 11 hours apart. Needless to say we have done lots of chatting via phone, text & chat over the past 5 days and I don't see that slowing down at all. We were inseparable while at Mizzou and I know our friendship will last a lifetime. Casey is like a big brother to me. Just ask his mother, we definitely fight like brother and sister. He calls me his 2nd wife. We have been through so much together in the 8 years that I have know him. It started with him living 13 hours from home and then me moving 12 hours from home. I've been through his engagement, been in his wedding and seen him start a family and he has two of the most adorable children I have ever seen. I am so sad to leave him and his family. After saying goodbye to them, I headed back to Carolyn's house (Casey's mom) to catch Neisha dropping off the kids. She had me crying the night before and that morning wasn't any better. She has cooked more meals for me than anyone (well Carolyn may be close or right above her) in Columbia, and I think both of their grocery bills may go down now that I am gone. I think Harper finally caught on to what was going on when she saw both Neisha & me crying. We have been telling her for a few weeks that I was going to go bye-bye for a long time like J. (Harper is super sad that Jmac moved to Philly. Now when you ask her whose girl she is...she answers "J's girl." It is so cute!) When I hugged her bye she didn't want to let go. And just kept snuggling up to me. Of course I lost it at that point again. My last goodbye was Carolyn. You would think at that point I would have been cried out, but not at all. She's my Missouri mom and always will be.

The first part of the drive was awful. I would be ok one minute, then bawling another. Finally after about 4 hours of driving I quit crying near as often, just a few tears every once in a while. I got great news right before I got to Joplin though--Tara was hired as a full time assistant athletic trainer at Mizzou! After a long few months of waiting, wishing, being confused and so many more things, she finally got hired on. I am so proud and excited for her!

After stopping in Amarillo to eat at Rosa's (LOVE that place), we finally got home around 9:30. We could have made it by 9, but chose to eat in at Rosa's after a long day on the road. Sadly the first thing I did when I got home was look up River Road's football schedule and compared it with the Mizzou Football and Soccer schedules. I was so excited to see that RR's open week for football has changed and Mizzou DOES have a game that week. I think Dad, Mom & I are going to try to go to the Furman game that weekend at Mizzou. Then the next month Mizzou plays football at OSU, so I am hoping to be able to drive over to that game on Saturday and then Tara's girls (soccer) plays at OU on Sunday so I will detour through Norman to go see her. She will be in California the weekend of the Furman game, so I won't get to see her then. Hopefully it all works out so that I can see everyone.

Being back in Texas is great as well. I really miss all of my Missouri friends, but catching with my Texas friends has been so nice. Saturday night I went and hung out with Tate, Malisah & Evan. We had such a great time. I graduated with Tate & Evan and we have all remained close since graduation even with all the different directions we have gone & have all ventured back close to home. I have really missed hanging out with them! They were two of my best friends all throughout school and you would never be able to tell that we have spent time apart. Both of their families are basically like another set of parents to me and have put up with me a lot throughout the years. I am so excited to be back close to them. I still have to get together with so many different people. I really need to find time to go see Jenny, Elaine & JJ. Tulia's Picnic Week (it's a BIG deal in Tulia) is July 13-18th and I hope to see tons of friends that weekend. This is when everyone comes back home for the parade & ranch rodeo on Saturday. This is also when all the graduates have their class reunions. Lots and lots of people come back home this weekend so it is always a great weekend to see everyone.

Monday we took the moving truck to Amarillo and unloaded it into my apartment. I have a HUGE living room and the bedroom is a nice size. I definitely need a bigger closet, but I am working on how to make everything fit. I unpacked all the boxes but still have to finish decorating and stuff. I saved that for another day when I am bored in Tulia. I'll take pictures when I am done with everything and post for everyone to see. If you are ever in Amarillo give me a call!

Well that's all for now. I really thought if I waited a few days to write this post it would be easier, but it wasn't. I still teared up in the beginning but ended with smiles thinking about catching up with all my friends that I have known for so many years. I can't wait to see all my family as well when Emily comes in the weekend of the 11th!