Home Again, Jiggidy-Jig

I am back at home. It was a nice "vacation." And true to form, as I was driving back today, the sky looked ominous, indicating to me that there would be "weather" in Kansas City. I'll bet it was perfect the whole time I was gone, and now that I'm back, the storms come. OK, I know I'm not that important, but it seems like there is an evil plot against me at times.

Anyway, I called ahead to ask Caroline and Laura about the weather, and sure enough, the city was under a tornado warning. One of those devils touched down near the city, but about 15 miles or so from us. I was just about to exit the toll road on I-35 when it poured rain, then before I got the last exit of the town ( probably about 4-5 miles), it quit!



I looked at the skies, and I saw some rather pretty cloud formations ahead, to the north, so I stopped and took a picture.








Then, another 10 miles or so, and this was off to the west of the highway. (click this to enlarge it so you can see how ominous it really was.)








A few more miles and I saw these interesting clouds ahead, to the north. Nothing worrisome, but a mixture of grey and white against the blue sky.








A few minutes down the highway, there was once again some scary looking formations on the southwest of a rest stop where I paused to take pictures.








And on the northeast at that rest stop, toward KC, where the tornado and torrential downpour was, I could see mostly soft, white clouds and blue sky!! Mild appearing, and a crazy mixture of fluffy white and grey streaks.






What the heck was going on? It was so interesting to see so many dramatic changes in such short distances.

When I got to the house and walked in, I was giddily happy to see the newly finished floors. They are really beautiful. I took pictures, but I'll wait to post them until tomorrow. They look wonderful, and the house smells so nice and fresh. Now my work is cut out for me, cleaning and minor touch up around the house, packing and storing or preparing for taking with me the remaining items here. Not much is left relative to what has been done, but still a significant list of tasks.

I've set my date for departing KC. I hope to finish the actual work in about 4 weeks, and use one last week to have lunch and dinner with everyone who has requested it. I need to make a list so I don't forget anyone, but I think there are about 10 appointments I need to keep. It will be good to have some free and quiet days for saying goodbye that is going to be an emotionally tough week, I'm sure. I will leave KC on 9/29/06, one year to the date that I left for Washington State to prepare for my husband's death. I decided that since that date was so close, I'd "close the circle" by ending my residence here on that date. There have been several other circles closed in similar ways in the last year, and it seems fitting.

So . . . it is real. And it is close. I feel both excitement about the new life ahead for me and some dread at the prospect of leaving the house the last time. Look out world, here I come!