Nor Cal Sunrise

I don't know how it happened but I'm finally at the airport.  Somehow all of my stuff fit into 2 checked bags, one carry on, and my purse.  Wait, I lied.  I know how it happened.  My mom is insanely helpful and an she's very good at stuffing suitcases.  :)
Getting out of bed this morning was very difficult.  Something about getting up at about the same time I went to bed back at school is strange.  But now, against my better judgment, I have a cup of coffee and I'm "awake".
San Diego's "sunrise" is really nothing compared to the one I saw this morning.  The clouds were so beautifully and delicately placed in the sky and the sun chased us as we drove into the darkness.  Just sitting there staring in the mirror watching the sun come up and spray the clouds with light was incredibly peaceful.  I am thankful for those quiet 45 minutes in the car with mom, dad, Huck because they were restful and helped calm my nerves a little.  I'm not the best flyer.  But it'll be ok, at the end of two flights and about 11 hours I will be in Rome.  Eye on the prize.
I suppose I will quickly summarize the rest of my pre-Rome summer.  I saw three excellent movies: Toy Story 3, The Book of Eli, and Killers.  They all surprised me in their own way.  Toy Story was just good.  Scary, funny, sad, and deep all at the same time.  I don't like many of the new animated movies and I thought it was great.  Eli was incredibly religious.  It started out a bit slow but the ending was great and it  had a good amount of suspense and thoughtfulness.  And I thought Killers was cute, I'm a sucker for a romantic comedy with a good cast.  It kind of made me want to be a spy.  Don't laugh.
On Tuesday I was able to go the range with dad.  The weather was perfect and we had a great time.  Even cleaning was fun.  Gosh, I missed the smell of gunpowder and that cleaning stuff.  If I had to describe the smell, it's a bit chemical-y, slightly intoxicating.  But don't trust me, I love the smell of gasoline and nail polish.  Haha, maybe that's why I'm crazy...
After that, we had some great bbq.  This place called Dickies.  So so so good.  The place originated in Texas-- finally, they are sharing their wonderful food with us in Cali.
I decided that this post is becoming incredibly long and boring.  Fast.  But I am going to keep writing because my flight is delayed an hour.  So I have nothing better to do, but if you do, please stop reading.  Wow, I lied again.  I have a ton of reading to do.  I really don't want to.  I'll do it later.  I promise.
I wanted my Ke$ha CD out of my car which was at the shop yesterday.  I called ahead and went over in my mom's car, Huck in tow.  Windows down, radio on, and the sun shining down-- we had a great quick drive.  On the way back home, "Love Story" came on the radio.  "We were both young when I first saw you/ I close my eyes and the flashback starts", I decided that Huckleberry is my Romeo.  I freaking love that dog.  Yesterday evening, after marathon packing, my mom and I walked him.  It was just about dusk, super quiet and beautiful.
One of the blogs I follow, Good Morning and Good Night, posted this yesterday:

“It’s funny how one summer can change everything. It must be something about the heat and the smell of chlorine, fresh cut grass and honeysuckle, asphalt sizzling after late-day thunderstorms, the steam rising while everything drips around it. Something about long, lazy days and whirring air conditioners and bright plastic flip flops from the drugstore thwacking down the street. Something about fall being so close, another year, another Christmas, another beginning. So much in one summer, stirring up like the storms that crest at the end of each day, blowing out all the heat and dirt to leave everything gasping and cool. Everyone can reach back to one summer and lay a finger to it, finding that exact point when everything changed.” ~Sarah Dessen

I feel like this is my summer.  This one summer can change everything.
Well, that is poetic enough to end on without a doubt.  But I feel the urge to conclude with song lyrics again.  So here is "The Road and the Radio" by Kenny Chesney: "Clarity and inspiration/ Happiness is a destination that's hard to find/ It may take some time/ But in my mind there's something more/ And I'll open up a brand new door/ And find the strength to close the ones I left behind/ And I'll get there leanin' on some friends I know/ The road and the radio".  I don't think I ever lost happiness, so I don't need to find it.  I feel so blessed, it is overwhelming.  But there is something to these lines.  Clarity, inspiration, and happiness are things that we all strive for and all want in larger quantities.  And maybe that is why we're here.  Maybe these are small components of the essence of humanity.  I think that is what God begins in us here, and will complete someday in heaven.  Happy thoughts. :]
I am sorry that was so long, but be happy.  I am going to stop writing now even though I have two more hours here.  Thank you flight delays. 
Actually, I am thankful to even get internet.  Thanks, dad for sharing the T-mobile account.  I would be very sad without internet right now.
Maybe I can start this reading...