This is big news. (No, I'm not pregnant!) So, take a breath.

I am joining the Peace Corps. In the Peace Corps language, I've been "invited" to join. I will be going to Ghana in Africa on September 21, 2005 for two years. Keep breathing.

At this writing, I have been asked to serve as a Business Advisor for an Ecotourism/Wildlife project in that country. This is a perfect match for my interests and the primary reason for making this choice.

Now, you might be wondering about how this all happened. This began quite awhile ago, quite simply and without much grace. Actually, it began with cleaning my closets. About three years ago, I went to the library and came home with a pile of books about organizing. I was afraid that my house had become hopeless and the only option was to drive away with only my very favorite things in the trunk and start over in another house. The library books mostly advised creating more storage--you know, cutesy shelves and rattan boxes, but one book was very different. It focused on the spiritual connection between "the stuff" and the life you "really want." That's the book that started all these life changes and for the life of me, I can't remember the title or author. Regardless, I focused not only on organizing my stuff, but also, on organizing my life--what to keep, what to repair, what to give away, what do I need??
The Peace Corps was on my dream list, along with a couple of other notions. At every inquiry into the Peace Corps, I received some sort of "invitation" to continue, and so I did. Sooo, that's the abbreviated back story and an opening for this blog, which is another first.