I'm packing up my stuff slowly but surely, methodically and effectively. Books go in small boxes to prevent that "oh shit this is heavy" sensation. I'm still trying to get rid of some books and clothes and shoes by selling on the cheap. There's junk to just plain throw away into the garbage, and things to just recycle or give to the salvation army.

I gave some back issues of 'Nylon' magazine to the 16 year old girl that lives in the 1st floor apartment upstairs so she and her friends can look through them for the fashion and music. I played mentor and 'big sister' to her a few times over the last few months of living in this house. She would sometimes come knock on my apartment door, asking for a tarot card reading, or if I knew how to help her get back into her apartment after locking herself out and forgetting the keys. She's a sweet girl growing up in a tough world. She wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. I told her she can design my red carpet wardrobe when I become famous. 

I go through ups and downs of confidence and fear. Excitement and anxiety. Am I making the right decision? It is a feeling, a calling, an unignorable urge to go to the Northwest and establish my roots there. We are living in tough times, in a confusing recession, and I am letting go of the life I built in DC, which I felt has both rewarded me and wore me down, and re-root somewhere that feels more nourishing, despite a tough economy. 

I'm afraid, but so many people reassure me that it is a journey that I will not regret. For every naysayer, I find 10x more encouragement, kindness, generosity, and open-arms from the Portland community as I reach out to bridge my journey across this country over the next three weeks. Though they say jobs are hard to come by in Portland right now, I have received some professional career interest, tips, and advice from many solid people I've reached out to either in person or over the internet. They tell me that I will be able to make it work, that it might take a little while and I may have to pull some not-so-great part-time jobs together for the first couple of months if that full-time position doesn't pan out right away, and that I will not only survive, but THRIVE, in my new home. 

This is a huge undertaking. Its taking every bit of courage that ever existed in my being. 
I pray that the Universe take care of me, protect me, and lead me where I am destined to go.