[And, so concludes my adventures at Clarion West 2001...]

Saturday morning. Everyone's packing or packed. I hadn't even started packing, yet, but there wasn't any hurry. Since I was only moving back to the suburbs, it didn't seem like there was any urgency.

I showered, got dressed, and enjoyed a couple of leftover pancakes that Avi had prepared earlier.

Ben may have been the first to leave. Hugs and farewells to him.

In order to reduce my airport load (I was originally signed up to bring pretty much everybody back to the airport), Avi was kind enough to take Carla on the first airport run. So, quick hugs and goodbyes to Carla. Then, Emily likewise helped out by bringing Kiini and Ibi to the airport. Hugs and goodbyes to them. Sean drove out at some point while I wasn't looking. (Maybe I was in the shower; maybe I hadn't gotten up yet.) I'd had a chance to say goodbye to Ari earlier in the morning, and he, too, was gone by the time I had my wits about me. I think Michael left with Karen... both of whom I was also lucky enough to catch and exchange goodbyes with before they left.

With each person gone, they left an open, empty room that gave the floor a spooky, ethereal feeling.

Linda left. I took Raymund to the airport, and returned to see Emily and Avi finished packing their respective cars and heading out for their respective home states.

At this point, the dorm floor was downright strange. Wind whistled through the empty rooms with their open windows and stole down the hallway and through the lounge. I started packing.

After an hour, I had most of it done. Just a few items left. And, suddenly didn't want to be there anymore. My next two trips to the airport were for Susan and Ling. However, when we talked about the timing of the trips and tried to figure out when I'd get my own stuff moved out, Ling offered to head out to the airport with Susan on the same trip, and then I'd be free to bring my own stuff home before it got too late in the day.

Fourteen farewells in about ten hours. Zoiks.

Packed up my stuff, and took a stroll up and down the hall. The last two residents were out foraging for dinner, so I had the floor all to my self. I closed all of the windows in my classmates former rooms, and then loaded up the cart to bring stuff down to my car...

Where I said farewell to Chris and the other dormitory staff.

Went home. Unpacked the car. Vegged out. Slept in my own bed. Ahhhhh.

Sunday. Woke up early and went to the dorms to pick up the last two Clarionites, Stephanie and Patrick. Stephanie surprised me with some of my favorite chocolate as a thank you for the airport run, just as Ling and Carla and others had done earlier. Wonderful!

And that was that. Like the last puppy after a litter has been picked over and divvied up, I watched them all leave. (cue violin music here)