Thank you to everyone who attended my goodbye party. I was truly overcome by the love and kind words expressed to me. I’m lucky to be surrounded by such generous and thoughtful people.
Katie Wheeler Miller got the award for traveling the farthest from Okinawa, Japan. BLux phoned in from Shanghai, China. LG e-mailed from Birmingham. Friends I’ve had all the way from preschool to college attended! There was a strong church contingent (and these folks are like saints to me, so I know their prayers go a long way) and Gamma Sigma (i.e., Girl Scouts) contingent. Grammy, aunts and uncles from Texas and Greensboro, and Alan’s future in-laws and nephews were able to make it, too. It was like a pre-wedding meet-and-greet.
I haven’t yet seen the pictures that Kim took, but here’s one of my favorites from Andrea. You can bet I’ll be printing this one and carrying it with me to Paraguay. It brings an immediate smile to my face.
Peace,
Emily
P.S. The other item I know I’ll be taking to Paraguay? The CD that Julia, Katie T, Katie Co, Mike and Taylor put together for me. It’s amusing and worth sharing. Here’s the track listing as Julia wrote it (songs are in quotes, and you can click them to listen to the songs on YouTube).
1. You’re “Simply the Best” and here’s why…
2. You’ll be a “Hero” to the people of Paraguay for…
3. Taking some serious technology to their “Politik“s.
4. And “If I Were a Boy” I would want to date you…
5. And my name would be Julian, but “That’s Not My Name.”
6. So this “Summer” be “the Champion“…
7. And not a “Cornflake Girl“…
8. Because we’re going to party like it’s “1901” (sad and without electricity)…
9. Without our little “Pistol of Fire” but…
10. When you come back, we’re going to “Effington“…
11. Where everyone “Better Be Good” to you.
12. In short, we’re sending “Cosmic Love” vibes to you across the seas…
13. So we’ll “Keep the Car Running” until you get back.
14. Not really, but we’ll remember “When You Were Young“…
15. And we’ll always remember when you were “Fancy.”
