It started subtly. It was something small and seemingly
slight. Yet it was the beginning of a change that can only be felt as that
wonderful mixture of terror, freedom, and excitement all at once in sudden
bursts throughout the day.
First it was a card. My drivers license to be exact. It will
expire while I am overseas and I do NOT want to retake my driving test. So in I
went to get a new one. Not a big deal, I give one up and another one comes in a
few weeks.
Chug. . .
Next came a key. Tiny and harmless, I had plenty of them.
What was one off of the ring?
Chug, chug. . .
Then something a bit bigger, my car. Sure it was just a key
too, but there was something that belonged to me attached to it. Oh well. No
use for a car in Benin.
Chug, chug, chug. . .
Then goes another key (work)
Chug, chug, chug, chug. . .
And another (grandparent’s house) and another (bike lock)
and another (apartment)
Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug. . .
Now go the cards; King Soopers, Safeway, Cost-Co, Library,
Student ID, Insurance, First Aid, CPR, Scouts, Debit, Credit. Away they go into
storage.
Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug. . .
My Wallet is getting thinner and thinner, my key chain is
lighter and lighter till there is nothing left. And that’s when the feeling
hits.
I don’t feel scared, worried, excited, nervous or all those
things people tell me I should feel (or what they think they would feel in my
shoes). I simply notice one seemingly insignificant fact. . .
My pockets are empty.
Now I’m just excited to find out where this train is going to take me.
