I have a terminal illness called the Peace Corps

No I am not dying but sometimes as I am getting ready to depart for 2 years I can't help but to make parallels to a person with a terminal illness.  

Giving/Donating all my stuff
I have been living on my own for years now, and have accumulated a lot of things.  Like a ton of stuff.  However, my friends have been benefiting from my massive purging.  I feel like Oprah, "you get a couch, you get a bookshelf, you get some books, and you get some more books".  Haha.  My mom is trying to warn me not to sell all my stuff, but what do I do with it all??  She doesn't want to keep it!  And I don't want to store it!  It has been easier than I thought to find good homes for my stuff!  So far only a small portion of things have gone to the goodwill pile.  So that's a good start right?  I want to send a special thanks to Alison, for taking the majority of my stuff.  And to Kim for doing the heavy lifting!!  

Saying goodbye
This by far will be the hardest part for me.  I know that I am coming back at some point but 2 years seems like a long time. Just the thought of saying goodbye is hard.  I get weepy thinking about leaving my friends and family behind.  I am especially going to miss my niece and nephews.  Ashlyn is starting to figure out who she is as a person and is going to need some guidance getting her trough these next years and I always thought that would be me.  It still can be there to support her just not face to face.  That is a hard pill to swallow.  And Timmy the middle child is growing everyday, and while he doesn't need me as much I will still miss his sweet smile, and cuddles.  Bobby is just a year old, and my hope is that he still remembers who I am when I get back!  Thankfully he started walking already so I won't miss that, and I will conveniently miss the terrible twos!  Although Carrie has assured me that she is more than willing to ship him off to me in the Jungle if he gets to be too much!  I know that all of my friends are going to keep in contact so that is good.  And I should have internet and will make sure to post my address when I get it.  I love sending and receiving cards so that is exciting!

Overwhelming support
I have been so overwhelmed by the support from everyone.  I feel so lucky to have people around me that support me doing this. I am so grateful for everyone who has loaned me things, bought me things, and are willing to send me treats while I am there!