I'll be home on the 13th-ish for a week or so and then I'll be driving back out to Eureka where I will live with a small family and take care of a three year old on Wednesdays and Thursdays and also go to school part time at College of the Redwoods for cheap. I'll also be working for the park one day a week, which will be splendid because I would hate to have to stop doing the work I have been doing all summer. Once I get California residency I'll go to Humboldt State University and finish with a forestry degree in a few semesters, cruise right into a master's program, be done with school, then go job searchin' for something in the forest service I guess. I really love it out here-it's beautiful. I don't know what else to say-I'll miss you all terribly-that was the biggest factor in this decision-leaving everyone I know and love behind-but I think we all know it is well past time for me to leave. And no worries, my spirit will feast and I will be well-cared for out here, though no one could ever replace all of your smiling faces. I love you guys, seriously. Aside from that, I don't know much else. I'm excited to come home and see everyone for one last time until probably Christmas, if I can afford to fly home then-we'll see.
Currently, for some idea of what life is like for me at this exact moment, I sit in a small deli on the corner of 3rd and F streets in Eureka. I've been here an hour and a half stealing wireless from some place nearby and slowly sipping on Guayaki Yerba Mate-slowly, slowly, my heart rate has increased with every gulp of extra caffeinated beverage. I am jittery, anxious, feeling weird. I get anxious a lot lately-I think I'm just pretty excited about this big change-nervous for sure, but definitely excited. I know I will be homesick and I'm not looking forward to that but it is something I'll just have to get over-everyone goes through it when they move away from the only place they've ever known. But luckily I have smoothly slid right into a loving, beautiful little family-Jeff, Michelle, Zoe-and a fantastic group of funny, no-hilarious, eclectic, brilliant co-workers and friends. Such caring folks, they always keep me smiling-I don't recall a single day I haven't started off laughing when I get to work-it really makes all the difference in the world. They have become like family to me and I know that as long as they are in my life I will always be cared for and loved. Anyway, enough of this long-winded list, onward!
I am getting ready to get up and leave this little deli now-I can't stand to sit still any longer-I'm headed to the bank in Arcata to switch my local branch to the Arcata office, another step in establishing residency in California, a feat proving to be much more difficult that I thought it would be. For every step I need to take, there is another thing I have to do first. Anyway, I'll piddle around in Arcata for a while until 7 or so, grab a bite to eat with Nate, then I'll likely head up to Requa for one last volunteer going away party bash of all time, as Rawson and Adam leave for the east early in the am on Sunday. I'll be alone pretty much all next week, which will be nice because there are a lot of things I need to get done and with no one around and nothing to do, I'll surely do them, finally.
Friends, I will be hours from Salt Lake City by this time a week from today-on my way to see you fine people again and I can't wait. I trust you are all doing well, and I leave you with some snapshots of the last few weeks. I apologize for the delay in postings-I just don't know what to write on here anymore. Enjoy the photos-may they hold you over until we meet again.
Much love,
Jess
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