Getting Better All The Time (better better be-tter)
Monday, June 15, 2009 at 9:52AM 
Goodbye House!!The house keys are turned in, the storage pods and the dumpster are gone, the cars are sold, and we have now officially added tremendously to Salvation Army's bottom line for the year. We're in San Francisco with family for a few days, then back to LA for a 24 hour goodbye and re-pack whirlwind, and then we board the plane. Voila! Life changed! Easy as pie!
I slept 9 hours last night. That's more than the cumulative of the last week put together. I was actually able to forget about the relentless prep for a bit yesterday, and have a carefree glass of slightly-warm wine at an Italian street festival we went to with my Dad. 
Brenna, her Dad and Eleanor in San Rafael, CA
We're having fun doing all our "lasts". We went to our favorite little Teriyaki Me! for dinner the night before we left. And Foster's Freeze (don't tell the kids - they weren't there for the coke floats). I bought Cap'n Crunch yesterday at the grocery store. Owen is the happiest kid this morning!
Little Motorboat (our cat) is adjusting really well to her new temporary home. For the next three weeks she'll be in San Fran, in a house with 2 dogs and another cat. The dogs could care less, and the other cat has taken to the hills -- our cat has pretty much taken over. In three weeks time she'll go back to Los Angeles, to live for the year with Uncle Paul, who rescued her in the first place.
Little Motorboat in our ridiculousy pink chair
I was talking to my sister in Atlanta yesterday, and she said "So - less than a week now. You leave on Monday!" and I had a little bit of a freak-out right there in the post office. Less than a week?!
I said to Bob "We leave in less than a week?!", and then I said "I thought we left on Tuesday!"
"We do leave on Tuesday" he said.
"The 22nd is Monday" My sister is laughing by this point. So, but for my sister we might have been hanging around our next crashing pad, waiting for Tuesday to come. We're so good at this travel thing! We're going to be awesome!
PS. We leased a car, AND booked a flight from Serbia to Germany (to pick up the car) yesterday. Now we have the first three months planned. With 5 whole days to spare!
Reader Comments (9)
Hey Redpath Family!
MUCH Love from the Grace family. We are SO excited for you. We just finally had our itty bitty vacation together and it has been amazing and WAY too short ... I think you're doing it right.
Peace, God Speed, and Happy Happy Joy Joy for the next 12 months ...
Much Love,
...The Lama....
Ah, I knew you leave Monday. We woulda made sure you all made your plane!
Mara
I love reading your blog. Takes my mind off off job hunting.
Brenna,
I love it when you put aside being entertaining for the sake of just being real. It's so...real. Now, when you're entertaining you are SSOOOOOOO entertaining I would rather re-read your blogs than feed my kids, but real is good, too.
You know, we moved a month ago and I still haven't arrived. So I guess what I'm saying is...(what am I saying?)...breathe, appreciate the moment, you have already arrived where you are. (I am reminded of a favorite greeting card that goes, "No matter where you go, There you are.")
Wishing lots of hugs and creature comforts and safe travels.
Aloha,
Nicole.
Remember to bring
Us your memories so we
Can see through your eyes.
Hi Brenna and Family,
I'm SOOOO happy for you all that you are going on this adventure.
I know that you will all benefit enormously from the experience of
seeing how other people in the world live.
I'm certain that your time together as a family will further strengthen
the strong bonds you already have.
I traveled from England to live in Italy at age 20; then in France at
age 21. When I was 26 I moved to Los Angeles. I did this all by
myself. I often wonder how different my life would have been if
my parents could have afforded to take the family traveling at an
earlier age...wait a minute! They sort of did...They moved us from
Pakistan to England...just before a Civil War broke out. Thanks Mum
and Dad!
Redpaths, may your Path to Yourselves be strewn with Love and
Light.
Chris Platel : )
Christine-Anne Platel
Brenna's Songwriter Friend whom she met in Nashville, but who
lives on Amelia Island, FL
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I can't believe you're actually going and so soon!
We'll miss you tons. I have nothing brilliant to say. It's all been said by others more eloquent.
Hugs,
Rosalind
What Rosalind said. Not feeling so eloquent today, but feel strong urge to reiterate all the wonderful wishes others have shared here.
What I will say here is that it's just occurred to me suddenly, during your last pre-trip week, I'm feeling surprisingly bittersweet. With the whole country between us, and no face-to-face meetings having yet occurred, working on your site together made your family so important to me and now you're leaving. But wait! You're no further away from me next week than you are, now, really. So maybe what I should be doing is wishing your local friends well, because as amazing as you are from this distance, I know they're gonna' miss you In A Mean Bad Way. How could they not?
Now go get us some good stories and blog 'em all... we're waiting!
Love and Light - your web chick...
We're missing you guys like crazy! Your dad is all misty looking, Jordan is sniffing and I'm all choked up. Now it is really REAL!! You've come and gone and are on your way!!! For so long, this has been something we've talked about and looked forward to with you, but now it is a little sad being us! Smile... Little Motorboat just saucily jaunted in and made me smile. ;-)
We are holding you in our hearts and thinking of the day we'll see you there. We love you and wish you sooooo much fun. Have a great trip.
Lots of love,
Me
I finally got you loaded up on my computer in Raleigh..I feel so special to now realize I am part of your family too...it was wonderful to meet you just before this great adventure...I am enjoying the posts...love the pic of Grandpa and kids...
Cynthia