Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

I woke up this morning in my own bed, next to my husband, and under both my dog and my cat.  (And like many pet owners out there, I can actually sleep like that.)  But I view life in a very different way now than I did the last time I woke up at home, only 72 hours ago.

Sometimes there are just two options: to do something fast, or to do something right.  Talking about my experiences in Ottawa is something that I need to take my time doing, in order to do the experience justice.  In fact, as I just explained to my husband, I can't really talk about it at all.  It's too big for me to wrap my head around while simultaneously speaking. Sometimes the only way I can express myself properly is through writing.

So I will be writing.  And when it's "done right", I'll post it here and let you know.  But the one thing I will share right here and right now is that I am profoundly grateful to have been given this opportunity, and that it really and truly has changed my life.