Bags are packed, but what kind of heart doesn't look back?

That title sounded all deep and emotional. But it's actually just a line from Sara Bareilles' song, Breathe Again. It's really good. And it went along with the fact that my bags are packed. So I went with it. Also. Bareilles. Am I spelling that right? Her name is the spelling equivalent of the Disney D. It'll never look right. It's whatever.

Anyway. My bags are all packed. And after two days of running around crazy - and by that I mean, mostly watching my cute family be the best in the world and help me do, gather, and pack all this crap - it is finished. My checked bag is a solid 48 pounds and my backpack makes me look like a turtle. My dad is insisting I travel in glasses, so what I'm getting at is this: I'll be solidly horrifying and ward off anyone even thinking about abducting me. Cause that's a real fear my mom has. People at work always respond to her statement, "My daughter is going to China!" with "Oh, have you seen the movie Taken?" I don't think it's the necessarily BEST thing for someone to say to my cute mama. She's a worrier. And I love her for that. Someone's gotta be.

I feel really weirdly calm. Not like I'm SO READY AND I WAS BORN TO DO THIS. Just like, let's let this be what it is, you know? No need to force the hysterics or feelings of total readiness or whatever. I'm ready to let this happen how it needs to. Hahaha. The best part about this paragraph is that you're reading it, picturing me in a plant-filled room, doing yoga and totally zen. (Oh. You are. Don't try and deny it.) But I've definitely cried today. And a lot the past week. And I can honestly say that 3/4 of those were not tears of panic, but tears of gratitude. And the other 1/4... let's not talk about. I am just really lucky to have so many people who make me a priority and who would do anything to be there for me and help me. I feel really humbled and also like I owe 987 people thank you cards right now. Good thing I have a 13 hour sojourn to work on that. GIDDY ON UP.

So, now I want to share a couple of my favorite sentiments from people saying goodbye this past week. I can't share all of them, because I'm tender and some will just turn me into a hot mess. A HOT MESS, I tell you.

"Just because an experience is extremely hard, doesn't mean that it has to be bad." - Tori. She's a wise sister.

"This isn't just like a trip, Shelby. This is like, like a. Like a QUEST!" - Duncan Thorne.

Rock on. Also. Let me give you a parting gift, before China. I don't know how much I'll be able to write the first week since I'll be on the arrival tour. THAT'S RIGHT. Seeing the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors and such. Is this real? Never did I think, sitting in Art History senior year, that I would get to see them. And so much more!

So. On to the parting gift. Do you guys watch Swamp People? If you don't, you SHOULD. If you think you won't like it, well. You're wrong. So watch it. Anyway. Here's a little tidbit for you. How do you guys feel about Shopko? Personally, I feel like Shopko is the redheaded step-child of the shopping world, but MAN has it come through for me in the past. And now... Shopko has SWAMP PEOPLE SHIRTS. I'm serious. And I not only own a Troy one, I now have a Bruce shirt. Here comes the gift. Bruce - as pictured above - turns out, is my Spirit Animal. Unnnnreal. So thrilled.

And that's all for now.  I need to get to bed. Because in a matter of hours, I'm leaving on a jet plane. :)