The Deep South

It has already been over a week since last time I wrote and so much has happened to me that I can hardly believe it! The daunting drive from Massachusetts to Georgia wasn't nearly as bad as I thought.  (I'm constantly learning that the things we worry most about are the things over which we should stop worrying entirely.)  I broke it into 3 days: Salem to Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and finally, North Carolina to Georgia.  I got lucky with my drive to North Carolina because I drove that segment on a Saturday.  Despite this fact, I ran into some "dense" spots traffic-wise around the city areas.  Besides that I was mostly alone with my thoughts and a lot of good music.  I am especially pleased to be in Christian radio territory again after my long stint in the godless state of Massachusetts where such a thing could not be found.  

In North Carolina I joined up with a friend and we caravaned the rest of the way to Georgia.  Along the way we stopped at "South of the Border" in South Carolina which was essentially a big tourist trap.  We took some pictures and promised to come back later to buy fireworks, but that was about enough.  

Tonight, some friends and I went out to dinner and to explore the local area.  Above is a picture of a lighthouse and one side of a fort at St. Simons Island in Georgia.  There's a National Park nearby related to this site's history that I'll have to go back and visit soon.  Everything was closed this evening so we couldn't go inside.

Above are some palm trees.  They are everywhere down here!  I don't see them in MA even though we are by the ocean because it isn't warm enough. Also, I haven't been to too many tropical places yet in my world travels so palm trees are still unique and very cool to me.  They make me feel like I'm on vacation.  The other really cool thing about the trees down here is that they are all draped with Spanish Moss.  It gives them a swampy, creepy feel.  Yet also a dramatic, regal kind of elegance.  The contrast between these two kinds of trees provides frequent visual interest.

This is the St. Simons Pier at sunset.  I got a chance to walk down it and what makes it unique is that on either side there are people lined up along the edges fishing.  You have to be brave and always ready to duck and cover your head because you never know when someone is going to real in a fish or cast a line into the water.  I think I almost got hooked a few times!  My first adventure out into southeastern Georgia was fun.  I'm looking forward to what the rest of the weekend holds! 

Stepping Stones

I'm happy.  For many reasons.  Let me tell you about them...

I'm home right now in Pennsylvania.  This state will always be home for me no matter where else in the world I live.  I grew up here and have lived the greatest percentage of my life here so far so nothing can change the feelings of normalcy and contentment I have when I'm here.  Granted, I'm only here for a day before I move on again, but what fun would a travel blog be if I didn't go anywhere??

Spring has sprung and the sunshine feels great after such a cold, bitter winter.

My destination this time is Georgia where I will be attending FLETC (a law enforcement academy). I'm happy, in most ways, to be going there.  It will be hot.  And humid.  It may feel a little like I imagine Hell would feel like year round.  But I'm 3 years overdue for some good old fashioned torture.  In a good way, believe me.  I've gotten "soft" since my seasonal academy and I need a kick in the pants to get me going and passionate again.  In a weird way I'm sort of looking forward to the discipline, long days, and the opportunity to test myself.  There's no better way to learn what I'm made of and to find out how far I can push myself without breaking.  Although breaking isn't so bad either (and the TV show was great!).  I've waited for this academy for a long, long time and I'm so excited for it to finally start! It's how my career will advance and is a stepping stone toward everything bigger and better.  I'm more than ready to be surrounded by like-minded people who are passionate about police work and who actually want to do the job.  I'm looking forward to having people be near me that are there because they want to be, not because they're forced to be.  And I think it will be refreshing to have people encouraging me to be proactive instead of shying away from action because of a fear of a few stacks of paper or a little extra work.

Getting off my soap box now... while I'm in Georgia I plan to go on adventures during my free time.  One of those adventures will be Disney (!!!) but who knows what the other ones will be?  A friend in a previous class told me about a wildlife sanctuary he visited that has live alligators in the parking lot! Beaches are another option for my weekends...  Those days off will be precious to me.

So far on this blog I've been to these states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.  I think I'll keep a list.

I've also been to West Virginia, Virginia, New Hampshire, Washington D.C., Vermont, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Maine in my life for various different reasons and all for longer than a day.  I've got a pretty good list and I'd like to continue building it.

If you're reading this and you're the praying type, I'd appreciate it if you'd add me to your list over the next 7 months (crazy, right?) while I'm at FLETC.  If not, happy thoughts will suffice. ;)  Keep checking back for stories, pictures, and more opportunities to live vicariously through me.