Last Day in Seattle

It’s my last day in Seattle and appropriately, it is raining.  I worked through Wednesday and spent the last 1.5 days packing, cleaning, returning cable equipment, going to Goodwill, donating books to the library, mailing boxes of stuff that could not be physically shoved in a suitcase, going to Goodwill again, continually selling and giving away all remaining possessions, and enjoying a few glorious hours of sleep.  I leave on a red eye flight tonight for a week with family before heading off to Mexico and am finally getting a moment to take a deep breath to prepare for one more leg of my journey.  The past month has been a blur but the guaranteed good stories associated with taking this leap are already stacking up.

• Thank you SO much to my awesome boss and coworkers for an amazing sendoff on Wednesday night! That was a great party and I was really touched by all the kind words and the extremely generous gift.  I heart Metro too!

My farewell party with lots of Metro folks!

• Thank you to everyone who let me force free things up on them at work. From the “Gettin Lucky in Kentucky” t-shirt, to unlabeled mix CDs from my personal collection, to my coveted Mike Piazza picture that was on my thesis desk at Reed, to a Twilight New Moon fan book (the guy who got that was super stoked), to every other memento from some part of my life that needed to find a new home.  If you want a chance to see a lot of people before you leave a job, I highly recommend the “free pile” in your cube!

 The pivotal Car2Go that was loaded up for many small but mighty runs to Goodwill (and every other errand this week not doable by bus)

• Thank you to the young couple who recently arrived in Seattle from Florida and made trips to my house not once, not twice, not three times but every week since I started selling stuff, once taking so much stuff with them they had to call an Uber to get home!  Thank you for doing the most of anyone to help me empty my apartment and for being the kindest people I’ve ever met at a yard sale :)  I’m so glad I got to meet you and wish you the best in Seattle! PS – I left the broom on the front porch for you with your name on it today.
• Thank you to Sheley for an hour of calm at breakfast yesterday, for years of hospitality, for taking the super popular Ikea Kallax shelf and painting, and for your employee who totally bought and delivered paper towels for me during my cleaning madness today.  That was seriously awesome!
• Thank you to Camille for taking all the remaining bags of free stuff (without a choice) and finding a way to fit me and all this stuff into her car.  Thank you for a home cooked dinner, for sweet, creative kids who fill my heart love and for a ride to the airport. I always love spending time with your family! 

 All packed up - this is all that gets to leave with me from Seattle. And not all of this gets to go to Mexico (Katie - get that bed/bath/laundry room ready for some storage!).

My empty apartment - how I loved you so. 

I’m so excited for my upcoming adventure but am going to miss so much about Seattle.  The mountains, Puget Sound, the ferries, a true appreciation for warm, sunny, dry days, the art museum, fresh sushi, my morning bus ride, my work, my friends….. I’m so fortunate to be able to take on this adventure and explore the world in a new way, and for those I leave behind in Seattle, remember this: I’ve moved all over the country, but Seattle is the only place I’ve ever moved back to so it seems likely it could happen again someday!