Oh, Atlanta!

Atlanta, stop two in my Gap Year, is a wrap. I got here December 24, and will pull out tomorrow, January 30. It was alot busier of a time than I had in my mind's eye, which is making me pause a little on how to plan and focus my time in the coming months.

Some poetry happened while I was here: Jimmy Carter died. I was seven years old when he was elected President, and I was living in Atlanta. Georgia was very proud to have him in the White House. My dad was into solar energy at the time, and Carter put solar panels on the White House. I remember all that. The Carter Center is walking distance from my sister's and dad's homes; the grounds of the Carter Center are where my sister and our daughters went to celebrate Biden's win in 2020. He was a man of astounding intellect and character. For some reason, I enjoyed being in Georgia for his passing.

We moved my mom into a "retirement" community / continuing care place. It was a big step, and the right step. She is brave and optimistic - and a lovely person to spend time with. So, after only one week, her dinner schedule is full and she is joining a group outing to the symphony tomorrow. I feel like we should create a bingo board for her: ukulele lesson; water polo game; line dancing; American Sign Language class. She will knock all that stuff out in no time. I spent a week with my mom, for the days before the move and the first three nights in her new place. When I left, I told her the training wheels were coming off. And now, I see her pigtails flying, hands barely on the handle bars as she cruises forward. What an awesome next chapter. Amen.

The activity raining down on us from the feds is head spinning. I'm determined to find some solid ground (in my heart, in my head) to work. On. Something. I just don't know what it is yet. If you have an idea, let me know. In the meantime, I assembling a bit of a playlist to help me out, and at the top is Walking Uphill by my faves, Lake Street Dive (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN6Q8exrEXY). "Feels like I'm walking uphill now...It's all getting pretty damn real now." True dat.

I start a three-day drive to Denver tomorrow. First stop is Jackson, Mississippi. It will be my first visit there, and I will happily connect with someone I used to work with who is doing great work in Jackson Public Schools. Day two, I head to Fayetteville, Arkansas - another place I haven't been, but have heard wonderful things about. Day three, I'll make it to Denver. A long drive day, with time to think, settle, listen to a book, and see the sun set in part of the country I haven't been in for some time, but really love.

Hugs and love, people. More from Denver!