Goodbye to Everything That I Knew

Monday, September 20, 2010

Twelve days.

That's less time than Lindsay Lohan spent in jail.

And that's how long I have left in DC.

My brain is mush, basically. I have nothing funny to say. But I have nothing devastatingly sober to say, either. I'm just thinking - about what I'll miss, what I won't, what I've learned, what I'm leaving. What I'm returning to, what might come next, what could go wrong, what I hope goes right. It's like my mind is on constant spin cycle, but everything's still all wet & lumped together.

Twelve days left to fit it all in.

I'm applying for jobs, of course, but I'm also trying to live. I'm ticking things off my 101 in 1,001 List before I go, like visiting Eastern Market & trying 10 new beers & doing some freelance work. And though there are a million things I'd like to do before I go, my remaining days are already booked with lunches & dinners with friends, with activities like trivia nights & cupcake-baking, plus the necessary evils of packing, of selling things on Craigslist, of figuring out how on earth I'll transport my bike back to Ohio - & leaving time in between for tears over packing tape & cardboard boxes, of course.

Twelve days left until the end of this chapter.

"It's been a good adventure," my mom says. But it's not just an adventure: It's my life. After three years here, there's nothing else I know much of except these people & this place. It was my decision to go, & I can't regret it. But packing my bags & driving away from this city is about to be one of the most difficult things I've ever done.

17 comments:

  1. I bet it's hard saying goodbye to DC. And I LOVE Eastern Market. Enjoy it while you can.

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  2. Enjoy the last few days in DC. The transition may be hard and take some time to get used to but you'll learn a lot.

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  3. Ya know what, you are LIVING life :-) Which is so amazingly exciting! You are taking a risk on yourself. Have faith that this is right because you chose this path for yourself. I know you're going to do so well in Ohio... I just know it. There's no doubt in my mind :-)

    Btw, if the bike is still around by Thanksgiving, Dan could probably get it for you and bring it to DC. We are going to Ohio for Thanksgiving (which means you and I need to do coffee!). I feel bad offering on his behalf, but I doubt it would be an issue (if it comes to that!). xo

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  4. Packing up is hard because changing your life is hard- but I bet the ensuing experiences that are to come will make it worth it.

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  5. Change is hard, no matter what type, but I think, in the end, you'll look back on this great adventure and be really proud of yourself. It takes a certain type of courage to flip things upside down and trudge into the unknown. I did it once and my life is a million times better because of it.

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  6. It's scary/exciting/depressing/thrilling, I know. Keep your chin up. :)

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  7. Mmm. I know the feeling. Excitement, fear, anxiety all at the same time. You got this girl. :)

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  8. DC is going to miss you!! :(

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  9. Best wishes on your move and transition!

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  10. You're entering a new season in your life. You may find that you like this new path. You may find that you can't stand being away from DC. One of my wise friends said to me once. Just make a decision to do something different. If it doesen't work out, you make another decision. Who knows where you'll be a year from now. So soak it all up and remember it and grieve it.

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  11. Oy, your to-do list must be huge. I'm so glad you're taking time to enjoy yourself before you go, we will miss you. DC will always be your home; when you move, it'll just be your home away from home.

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  12. ooh best of luck to you! transitions (especially such big ones!) are so, so hard and yet so, so necessary! i hope this one's soul-soothing!!

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  13. You can do it, you can do it! (That was my pep talk)

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  14. Nooo =( Will you still be blogging? I keep thinking I'm going to run into on the street one day, but this will be harder once you're in OH.

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  15. Sweetie, I hope everything works out for you, and have faith that it will. Transitions are incredibly hard, but hey! you've done it once already, right? We're all rooting for you.

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  16. What a beautiful and melancholy post, especially the last paragraph. The past three years have been more than just an adventure. But, I bet you're on to more living -- and all the adventures that accompany it!

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