The Sunshine Coast: Departure

August 23rd

My last day on The Sunshine Coast. I go swimming four times and do my laundry so it will smell like the beach, specifically Peregian, which smells bright and sunny and perfectly content.

I get a big kick out of other people's excitement when I talk about going to Warburton, this shared energy. While saying 'bye, Tom is near giddy when he asks if I'm excited about the adventure.

***

Sometimes, typically after a short amount of sleep, I'll experience that feeling of Instant Awake -- no foggy brain, no body grogginess.

It's around 3:40am, and I am awake. I scurry around, getting my things organized and into the car. Kellie drives to where we're meeting her parents. Hellos, goodbyes, and I'm in the back with Rod the Dog on the 11-hr drive South.
It's 4:16am

Kellie's parents are very nice. Her mom is sweet and her dad, well.... her dad is a lot. He is The Aussie Dad, worthy of The Castle. He gives us regular temperature updates -- "10 o'clock and 32.5 degrees" -- and when Mom tells Kellie's sister on the phone that we left at quarter past 4, Dad quickly and loudly corrects her: 4:16. He's not trying to be funny; precision and accuracy are dead important.

But all that really matters is that I got into a car, was deposited 11hrs later at Hornsby station, picked up 20 minutes after that outside Roseville station, and was on the couch in Beacon Hill drinking one of Lucas's magical green smoothies in no time.

Ah yes, I am the luckiest person you know.