It is now just seven days before I will board a flight and leave my husband and family and the United States for Peru. This has been a long time coming. From an early age I always planned on traveling the world. I planned on learning 13 languages and having 12 kids. I haven't accomplished either. But I do have 3 sons, twin boys who are probably very grateful I changed my plans on naming them Prometheus and Epimetheus. Today is their birthday, they turned 28. Their older brother Mark is 30. I also have studied French, German, Spanish, Italian, and sign language. But I digress. I thought I might join the peace corps. But you need a college degree so I started school. Bored with school I jumped into marriage and motherhood. After the kids were graduated I looked into the Peace Corps as I now had a BA and an MBA but as it turns out along the way I had joined the Navy Reserves in Intelligence. They

do not let you do Peace Corps if you are recently involved in Intel. I could have told them I didn't know much and wouldn't spy but just the same that was a dead end. My mother got the idea we should start a store. I worked endlessly trying to make that venture work but six years later we closed. At last I am free, no kids, no job, what shall I do? For the first few months my mother needed my help as she recovered from symptoms of myasethia Gravis. I had a few months of freedom and then accepted a job that promised travel opportunities. But the first few months were the busiest so the furthest I traveled was Granbury, Texas. After the Christmas Season I went to Arkansas then to Houston to learn to be a trainer for the company. This was supposed to be a traveling trainer position but shortly after I was trained the company changed policy and wanted to have trainers for each area. Oh and did I mention being in the military for travel, but with kids being young and the project I worked on that adventure got me as far as Corpus Christi. Then a situation comes up and Ted and I find ourselves parents again to a 7 year old and 3 year old. Ted lets me know very quickly that this means even Houston is out of the question. Grounded again. The girls were returned to their parents on June 15 and by the end of the next week I finalized my trip to Peru before anything else could possibly stop me. I am already making plans after Peru for Montreal, China and perhaps Thailand. Now I have to work in there somewhere so we shall see if the company promise of travel holds true. We sell in Montreal, Toronto, Scotland, England, and New York. So hopefully I can refill the coffers every now and then. Now life has been good. I have been able to travel probably more then some not as much as others and certainly not as much as I would like. But it has always been my desire to do more then just visit. I want to live there, be a part of it. So here I go...I will update this blog from time to time on what I find along the way. The school I chose has three locations, Argentina, Chile or Peru. Since I chose Peru it seems like the universe is telling me that was a good choice. A friend of my mother's, Tomas, his mother lives there. Last week I ran into an good customer from the store and discovered her niece lives there. I contacted her and she has invited me to stay at their house in Pisac, she wants to meet for lunch or dinner and has offered any assistance I may need. So I will not be totally alone. I will be attending a school taking 20 hours a week in Spanish classes and the school has arranged for me to stay with an older couple in their spare bedroom. It is only 94 right now but this past week has seen temperatures well over 100 to 109. It is winter in Peru, Lima around 70 and the nights in Cusco will get down to 35. So I shall not miss this Texas heat. Adios, por ahora, Laura.