a district farewell

I have tried to draft several entries regarding leaving DC and all of them lack that je ne sais quoi that true farewells are made of. In writing about my departure, I find myself overwhelmed with stories to recount, thank yous to make, and wonderful friends to acknowledge. In the breaks between packing, cleaning, and planning, I've met up with a few close friends, either at the apartment or at a favorite restaurant to share a bottle of wine, movie and book recommendations, and belly laughs one last time (for now and in this context). These are the things that farewells are made of that can't be committed fully to paper (or blog).

It's weird to hear myself say phrases like, "The past four years have been great," because I am so used to time and time again leaving- for holidays, abroad adventures, or breaks -but always, always coming back to these people and this place. I, of course will see these people again, and I am not so naive to believe that this is the be all and end all (Note: that doesn't mean I claim to be an full-fledged adult quite yet). Regardless, it's foreign to imagine this novel world where we have to make a concerted effort to phone or e-mail and make solid plans to choose and meet in a city, as opposed to making loose promises to meet at the Davenport cafe sometime after three pm.

I find my self rambling, but only because it's difficult for me to do four years in this gift of a city with my "biffles" justice with just a few paragraphs. I'm sure the clarity I am looking for will come to me my last time on the Metro -luggage all around me, $0.35 left on my SmartTrip card, and notebooks shoved into the smallest of crevices of my suitcase, unable to commit to paper those specific and special words I seek so desperately at this moment.