It was the best of times, it was the most stressful of times...

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us..." (A Tale of Two Cities). 

Oh Mr. Dickens, my wordy friend... why does this quote keep jumping to mind as I prepare for our next adventure. The dream of living in France for the summer is quickly approaching reality and I can barely keep up.

"What an incredible adventure!" everyone says.

"You are so lucky" everyone says.

I do agree... I am very fortunate and very excited about the baguette eating, the site seeing, the chocolate...oh the chocolate, the language learning, and exploring history in a way only possible by physical sight and touch. Oh Europe, here I come! I'm already salivating. 

Although, despite the excitement brewing, few people see the cauldron of stress I'm currently sweating in. If there is something I have mastered in my life it is worrying! I am so very talented at worrying, stressing out and "awefullizing" as my mom calls it. I currently have a composition notebook quickly filling up with lists, calendars and preparation notes for my pending adventure. Everything is written down: which drawers need to be cleaned, what clothes I'm packing, and even "clean closets...moderately". I have to remind myself I don't have to do it perfectly, just "moderately". Seriously? 

I really do see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know once this week passes, my notebook will be filled with unreadable words and beautiful dark lines through each item. Oh the joy of a completed to-do list. I just have to get there. Then the real fun will begin... Europe, a toddler and a mild-mannered mother who knows just enough French to say, "J'ai une pomme"