Pre Hike 31 March 2018

One step closer.   Today the movers came to take most of my belongings to storage.   I had previously sold my sofa, bookcases, floor mirror and chaise lounge.  I don’t miss them at all. The movers took my boxes of books, desk, dresser and kitchen items.   And now my apartment is fairly empty and it feels refreshingly spacious and open.   I have one more week in New York City.  One more week.  I feel so ready to move on.  I think about the work I have yet to accomplish at the gallery and I find myself yearning for Friday when I can wake up and realize that my work is done.  And then I can finally focus all of my attention on the remainder of my pre hike organization and preparations.   Yet sometimes I find myself looking around the empty space of the loft studio with the brick walls and high ceilings and exposed I-Beams.  I think about when I first moved in 2 years ago and how exciting those days were unpacking and discovering a new neighborhood.   A lot has happened in those 2 years.  There are some really wonderful memories made while living here.  It makes me very happy to dwell on all of it.  And I am so glad that those thoughts don’t make me sad or wistful. 

I’ve decided to move my drive back to Ohio from Saturday to Sunday.  I just need one more day here. I want to take June Finch’s dance class Saturday morning and say goodbye to many of my dance friends who take the class.   And I want to celebrate the past 25 years of life in this amazing city Saturday evening.   But Sunday morning I will be ready.  I will pack up the rental and then…

Then I will turn off the lights one last time. I will let my gaze linger on the space for only a second and then I will shut the door never to be opened again by my hand.  I will make my way out of the city over the George Washington Bridge and then on into New Jersey.  And then I will spend about 5 hours in Pennsylvania.  And then Ohio.   Ohio where my family awaits.   There will be no looking back. 

The final sentence that ends a sweet, rich and vibrant chapter.  And then the magnificent start of another.