I jump up from my chair and bit my knuckles as my legs take on a life of their own. I want to scream but the sound cannot come from my mouth. I want to pick up the phone and call my family and start screaming, but I can't...not yet, I open my front door and I look at the road in front of me and I want to strip off my clothes and run naked down the street screaming, but quickly figure out that I may get arrested...that would be super disasterous especially now. I close my door and my doggie Sketch runs behind me mirroring my excitement, his tail wagging swiftly as he tries to figure out what's going on. I pick him up and whirl him around, put him down and run up the stairs. I stood on the landing for a moment trying to figure out what I went upstairs for and couldn't remember. I then run down stairs and fall on my knees..."Thank you God...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!" While kneeling, i start rocking back and forth and the tears stream from my eyes as I clutch my dreams, hopes, plans and security in the palm of my hands...I never knew I would enjoy holding a small piece of paper so much. I kiss the ticket and hold it up to the ceiling and I allow the tears and the feeling of joy to envelope me, I felt the pure, raw, feeling of freedom...free from wanting or needing. I cried for myself, my family and friends whose lives are about to change....overwhelming is an understatement.
