Departure Day has Finally Arrived

In just a few hours the GSE team will be on its way to Italy. I believe I am as ready as I will ever be, given the level of organization I have taken to feel prepared for a lengthy departure from everyday life.

I am still somewhat in disbelief that this is really happening. We've all been planning for this since our notice of acceptance on the team in November, yet here I sit on my couch just a short time away from what is going to be such an amazing experience, still wondering how I got here. (Warning: Sappy stuff coming up.) None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my friends and family. I am forever grateful to everyone that has ever been part of my life. Every goal I've achieved, every dream I've realized has been plenty of hard work and effort on my part, but came to be because of support from you all. And this is yet another experience I will have because of you and cannot wait to share with you.

Thank you to Danielle and everyone at the Delaware Art Museum for supporting me through this and realizing what an opportunity this is for me and the Museum and allowing me the time to be away (I know you'll do a great job keeping things running fabulously without me!). Thank you to Cam for nominating me for this program. Thank you to my family, especially Angie & Mom, who have been on the phone with me so many times over the last weeks, during my highs and lows, and had the patience to deal with my ups and downs so I could make it to this point and be ready to go. Thank you to Darren for getting me away from Italy stuff when I needed it and helping me keep my sanity and not miss out on fun adventures before my departure. Thank you to Tina and Dan, who are amazing friends that will be going out of their way to make sure everything is taken care of for me here in the States. And thank you to Ann, Stephen, Morgan, and Suzy, who have already made me so proud to be part of this group, and who will be my family away from home for the coming weeks.

I cannot wait to share all our adventures with you along the way.

Off we go.......