Pre-Trip Thoughts

I have been extremely busy the last several weeks volunteering at the Botanical Garden and going to the gym where I enrolled in their once yearly Commit to Get Fit Program.  In this program, you get points for attending exercise classes, doing exercise in the pool, gym or even walking a nearby park as well as attending demonstrations of exercise equipment and attending seminars.  With these points you are awarded prizes.  I find each year it brings out something compulsive in me and I turn into a gym rat.  It all takes time.  I reached my goal of a free massage and now I’m finished with the gym for the month of May.  We leave tomorrow to visit my sister in Tucson and then to join a 6 day birding trip in Southeastern Arizona.  I’m finding it hard to slow down, to focus on what needs to be done before leaving.  I find my mind rushing to worries:  will it be too hot?  Will the birding group be compatible?  Will I forget something (inevitably)?  Will my new garden by ok while I’m gone?  Will Bob get a good enough seat on the airplane?   I know worrying is wasted energy, but my mind just races from one possible problem to another.  I take a few deep breaths.  I try to focus on what I’m looking forward to:  being with my sister, the joy of birding and being in beautiful nature, eating out every night, seeing beautiful places, the blue blue sky of Arizona.  All will be well and soon we’ll be off.