I'm going on an adventure next week. I leave Sunday morning (at 5:55 am!) for Hanover, New Hampshire for a week-long conference on Educational Fundraising. Before I get to Hanover, though, I have to navigate a layover in Detroit. By myself. Then I have to land in Manchester, find the rental car place and drive an hour and a half to Dartmouth College. Where I've never been before. Alone.

I finally admitted to my boss and co-workers today that I have never travelled all by myself before and that, being the baby of the family, never developed my navigation skills very well. In fact, I have a vivid memory of being in Birmingham, England on a college trip, blithely following my dear friend Andi through international airports and train stations, fully confident in her ability to get us safely to our destination. (Which she did, by the way. She also found all the great pubs and Chinese restaurants too).

I blame my current situation on always being in the back seat of the van or the last in line, behind my Eagle Scout brother, who patiently navigated all of our adventures. Richard, this is all your fault!

But, praise the Lord for iPhone and google maps and sweet coworkers who laughed with me and not at me when I confessed that I was nervous to travel alone on my big adventure. Once I arrive safely on campus for the conference, though, I'm not out of the woods yet: I have to stay in a college dorm for five days. That will be another adventure all in itself.