home at last, home at last

It was a long journey getting here, but I finally walked into my home at 3:00 this afternoon. We were delayed only an hour this morning in Atlanta due to fog, but the pilot put it into overdrive and got us to KCI in an 1 hour 40 min (normally at 2 hours 15 min). I couldn't believe the emotion that came over me when I saw Chris waiting at the airport. I missed him.

All the luggage made it too, which is always a relief. Unfortunately, I still brought a memory of the trip home with me...during the week, I had been having some pain in my right index finger that probably started with a hangnail or something. Well, it was getting infected and progressively got worse in the last 36 hours. My finger tip swelled to the point of bursting (but there was no open sore) and the pain was becoming unbearable. I got an appointment with my doctor today and it was pretty bad.

I won't go into the details, but I am now on 2 antibiotics and will have to get it x-rayed on Friday to make sure the infection didn't go into the bone. At least the pressure is relieved and I'm not in as much pain.

Now, on to the reflective part of my trip. What did I learn from traveling abroad? More than I can pinpoint right now. It did make me appreciate some things in America, but it also made me wish that we, as Americans, can be more earth-friendly, healthier eaters, better walkers, and more gentle. I loved meeting so many young people from around the world and listening to their views of how life is in their world. I know I will go back to living my life the same way, but I do hope that I can take time to reflect on this adventure every once in a while and know that I grew just a little.

Thanks to all who kept up with my daily rambles, so now I don't have to retell it all over again! Until the next time I stray from Topeka...