World Traveler

And she's off. We are just back from the airport. Our girl is once again headed to the other side of the world. She finished packing well after midnight, after our dinner as a family at Max Brenner to celebrate her birthday. She's sleep deprived from that and a week of over-the-top homework, but she's good. She didn't look or seem one bit sick this morning. She knocked that cold out, probably from laughing all day yesterday because the weather smelled like summer, she said. Now she's settling down for a twenty hour flight to South Africa with eight kids and as many teachers. She will turn 17 while she's there. And she will teach township schoolchildren photography and dance and other arts every day for two weeks. And she will have experiences. She hugged us goodbye at the airport and patted our backs to comfort us, then she turned towards that gate, purple knapsack slung over one shoulder, sunglasses on top of her head, and she was ready. The photo above was taken in Rome, during her summer in Italy last year. She had the same demeanor about her this morning. Making sure we're okay, but eager to get on with the adventure. Look out world.