So let me tell you a little about my trip to Orlando.

This was the first real vacation I’ve had in years.  YEARS.  I can’t even remember the last vacation I took.  My family went to Buffalo to visit my Dad’s parents last summer, but I’m not sure I really count that as a vacation because it was all family time.  The point is, I don’t take a lot of vacations because I can’t really afford it for one thing and because I don’t have the time for it for another.  This was a pretty big step for me.  I’m still not entirely sure I could afford this vacation, but it’s over now, so…

I had a four-day weekend thanks to Memorial Day and the new job at the ortho’s office (if I can still call it new, I’ve been there almost 5 months), so I just took the plunge.  I’m not really a risk taker, never have been.  The day I purchased the plane tickets- I felt so amazing!  And I’ve been in such a GOOD MOOD ever since.

I got off work at 5:00 on Thursday and headed straight for the airport.  It was the first time I’ve flown by myself!  I’ve flown a few times, when I was in college for trips with the Honors Program I was involved in, but I’ve never flown for a personal trip and never by myself.  I’m used to being alone, so it wasn’t a big deal, but it did make me feel GROWN UP.  You know?  I’ve been an adult forever it seems like, but this was just another one of those things that every adult has to do- Fly on a plane by themselves.

So… Check!

I had a short layover in Nashville and I almost freaked out when we landed because I thought I missed my connecting flight to Orlando!  ALMOST freaked out.  But I kept my head cool.  I almost freaked out because when we landed my phone said 8:26 and my flight to Orlando was scheduled to leave at 8:20.  I was stuck on the plane so there wasn’t anything I could do until we got off the plane and I found my gate to see if my flight had left.  I texted my friend to let her know and then I saw the guy’s cell phone beside me said 7:28.  I was like, “Is there a time difference between Raleigh and Nashville?”  Brooke said she’d look it up and let me know and sure enough, yes, there is an hour time difference!  North Carolina and Tennessee are so close, I never knew they were in different time zones!

Needless to say, I didn’t miss my connection!  I got to Orlando Thursday night a little after 11:00 and Brooke picked me up at the airport.  My vacation REALLY started the next day!  More to come…