Last Days

T-10 Days till Brussels.

Today is my last day at work. It's been a very weird trajectory this week. I started out completely stressed by all I needed to accomplish before leaving. And then, around mid-week, all my duties belonged to other people and even my suggestions on future events were unwanted. I know people here still love me. It's just very weird to feel professionally obsolete by the end of a meeting. If just for a few days.

Looking ahead, I have a week of final tasks, selling the car, packing, large runs to goodwill. I told my dad I'm so over making decisions that I might just throw my favorite stuff into a suitcase and call it done. Thank God, my sister and her family have been in town for the past few weeks. She's been so encouraging and grounding for me. And of course she lets me snuggle her babies which I also enjoy.

All the big things are set. I have my ticket to Brussels. I leave September 8th around 3pm. I have a place to stay when I get there. I'm subletting an apartment from an outgoing student at my school. She's offered to meet me when I land and show me around a bit. So I'm really looking forward to that. I have my long stay visa. Which, despite a tight deadline, went through the works like it was coated in grease. My student loans are all worked out. And I think that's all I need. That and my stuff.

Friends have been incredibly generous. The gifts I've been given have so touched me, mostly by the love with which they were given, that it's hard to share about them. Maybe later. But thank you to all of you. You know who you are.

It's very weird to feel so connected to Nashville, when most of my adult life has been about NOT being here. Even moving back,  I'm sure I left no doubt that there was somewhere else I wanted to be. But now that I am leaving, my heart pulls a bit on the things about this town that attach deep. Important friendships. Getting to know family in a new way. Four seasons of lush trees!!! I never got over watching the hills around here change.

Butterfly Boucher knows what I mean.
"I've got heart full of rubber bands that keep... getting caught on.... things......"