thinking about walruses.

With less than twelve hours until I leave for MSP to fly to ORD to fly to HEATHROW...I'm chasing around my room like a chicken with its head cut off, utterly and completely worrying myself into a frenzy.

I'm worrying about exchange rates and direct deposits.  I'm worrying about getting germs or something at hostels and having to cook and not being able to remember French. And missing home/ND and forgetting my stuffed bunny and losing my passport. And sucking at my internship and getting robbed and getting lost. And missing the Sunday night curfew and registering for classes and not spending too much...

I didn't realize what a variety of things there were to spaz utterly about when leaving the country for four months.  Eep.  So here I am sitting on iChat (for like the last time in four months if it doesn't work in Europe, heh) spazzing to my wonderful friend Brian the Trumpet Player, and he tells me to think about walruses if I start freaking out.  Naturally, my response was "walruses...what???"  He explained (partially facetiously) that walruses were "BEST ANIMAL EVER" with "their big goofy tusks" so I Googled walruses and it made me smile.

I know I'm being ridiculous.  I won't lose my passport (if I'm careful) or spend too much (if I stay away from Harrod's) or forget French (if I think before speaking) or starve (if I find friends who CAN cook) or suck at my internship (if I work my ass off) or get lost (if I ever learn how to read a map).  I'm a capable person, and I'm going to London for the best experience of my life.

I can do this, and in my heart of hearts I know that...so I need to just take a chill pill, drink some water, watch some shallow TV and go to bed.  Tomorrow will be the beginning of the biggest adventure I've ever had, and I AM ready.  My passport and visa letter are packed, I have an adapter-thing for the plugs, my camera and iPod and laptop are all charged, I got a great new backpack, and I seriously have a few minute, non-crucial things to do tomorrow.  On that note, the chill pills are calling and there's a Season 2 episode of "Gossip Girl" with my name on it waiting.  Next time I write it will be from the UK!!!  Can't wait :)