The Night Before France

It's the night before I leave for France, and I'm trading in my chopsticks for a French dictionary. The adventure has started, or rather, resumed, after a brief intermission and much-needed time at home with my family.

A few years ago, I'd mummified the dream of going to Europe, and never dared to even think of living there. I wasn't short-changing myself, just being realistic.

But now, as another move is about to happen, my experience in traveling this past year has made me wise enough to try to temper my near-continuous shivers of excitement. The unanswered questions on the other side of the Atlantic are both thrilling and scary. There will be euphoria and tears, laughing and learning. But all this will get me closer to heaven and deepen my longing for it. It's 2:05 and I'm finished for tonight. The coming months will give me time enough to spaz out over the history, style, architecture and people of Paris. Until then...

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

J. R.R. Tolkien