Last day as a bus driver

Today was my last day to work at the YMCA.  It started off great.  My good freind from high school was in town and wanted to go looking at hardwood floors in Dalton.  She came and picked me up, had a nice southern breakfast at the local redneck restaurant.  And off to Dalton for flooring.  There are at least 30 stores at that one exit all selling the same thing.  The good thing about shopping with her is that she knew exactly what she wanted.  "Exotic Brazilian Teak, Cherry or Maple" she wouldn't look at any other thing in the store.  The first few were priced too high or didn't have exactly what she wanted.  Of course she would find the perfect dark brazilian cherry wood she was looking for in the last store we went in.  And for $3.19 a sq ft it was the bargain of the day.  Most places sell it for $5.  All these facts I learned today :)

I had made a doctors appt for 11am to sort out my prescriptions while I'm away.  I need to have with me at least a 2 month supply because you just never know when you can come back.  I got that all sorted out.  Prescriptions are good for 6 months, no worries now about me going crazy if I don't get my drugs.  I then went to get a haircut because it had been about 6 weeks since my last trim.  I got a great new haircut and left the salon feeling on top of the world.  I had about an hour to relax at home before I went to work on my last day. 

This was the happiest day in a long time.  At work, I was able to say goodbye to all the people who mattered to me.  I told the children on the bus that I would be leaving  and would miss them all.  I got so so so many hugs.  When I got back to the main branch, I saw the preschoolers playing outside, I had worked with them closely from June-October of last year.  I thought that more hugs would be appropriate.  I go to the playground and you only have to tell 1 kid that you want a hug becuase you are leaving and then I was bombarded with little hands all over me. 

Saying goodbye to the preschool children that I have seen learn and grow so much was the best part of my day.  I will miss the energy they have, the funny stories and just them being cute normal kids.  Some of them are so cute they make me want my own children  right now today.   But then a difficult child will be nearby and bring me back to reality that kids aren't always cute and I change my mind abount having kids

When i got home I was so exstatic to check the mail and find the W-2 I needed to file my taxes.  Took me only an hour and I was done.  I will receive an amazing $366 next Friday the 4th. 

Then I got down to the serious part.  Packing.  The good thing is that I have learned to travel light becaue of all my international trips.  If I have to carry it aournd, it's not gonna be very heavy.  All I needed was one rolling duffel bag bought at the Goodwill for $3, a few days worth of clothes, for all types of weather. Heavy winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves.  I even brought sandals, just in case I end up in TX, CA or FL with 80 degree days.  I think that I packed all the essientials and can survive with no problems for a month. 

Just opening the refridgerator was overwhelming.  I had to basically throw everything out.  Because in another month, nothing in there would be any good.  So now I have an empty refridgerator, 100% clean dishes all put away and  the house is all picked up too.  I began loading things into my car.  I took a break in the middle of loading to sit and think about what I forgot.  Nothing came to my mind.  So I got the last bit, turned off the lights and said goodbye to my apartment. 

I get in the car and realize I missed a critical step to leaving.  I wasn't going anywhere with the keys on the inside of the house and me on the outside of the house and a lock between us.  The only excuse I can come up with for this was that I had a lot on my mind.  I had to take a humbling walk over to the neighbors house and ask if he had a ladder that would reach my one window that doesn't latch shut.  Success.  Disaster Avoided.  Deeply Humbled Now.

Now I'm in a Hotel in Atlanta and start my orientation at 8am.  I'm gonna head to bed now and I'm still very excited about my new venture in life.