Thinking about goodbyes

So, next week is going to be my last week at work.

This is exciting and scary all in one. I regularly alternate between being ridiculously happy and totally freaking out. On the one hand I'll never have to read about a mining project ever again!!! I'm going to be totally free! Possibilities are endless! Maybe I will book a last minute flight to Hawaii where I will become a pro surfer who can talk to dolphins and marry Jack Johnson on a moonlit beach?! Yeah something like that will definitely happen! This will be the time of my life and the best thing that's ever happened to me...

...unless I die. What if a hippo suddenly thinks I look delicious?  What if Jack Johnson turns out to be a crazy serial killer? What if my recurring plane crash nightmares finally come true??!!!! Ahhh! Ok, fingers crossed none of those things happen, but seriously, the thought of all the work I still have to do and get prepared for the new person in my job is a scary thought. And then it hits me...I only have one more paycheck coming in...OMG I'm going to be poor. And then another though hits... In a few short weeks I'll be in a country where I don't speak the language whatsoever because my futile attempts to learn Spanish were easily overtaken by such very important things as watching The Bachelor, having drinks with friends, going snow tubing, going to concerts, having drinks with friends, visiting my parents, daydreaming about my future wedding to Jack Johnson, and of course having drinks with friends. Oh well, hopefully I will be able to communicate somehow. Drawings, sign language, charades?! Shit!

I won't bore you with the rest of my worries. Except this one. Now that the weeks are closing in before the trip, I've been realizing how much I'm going to miss my friends. I am so lucky to have so many amazing friends that I've known since we were fresh faced Grade Nine's in our rolled-up-too-high kilts at St. Joe's. I even have a few friends from way back at Holy Rosary when we were so innocent that playing kissing tag at recess was as scandalous as we got. Then there are a couple of friends I've known since age zero, growing up on Wychwood where our tiny backyards felt as big as football fields. A special shout out also has to go out to my friends at work, in Toronto and St. John's, who have become some of my best friends in life after being there to listen to daily complaints and triumphs, and were always there to provide awesome advice and a good laugh... and chocolate... and cupcakes... and Starbucks! Meeting tons of great new friends through my Masters program was one of the highlights of my 2012. Of course I can't forget my mom and dad. Since I moved back to Toronto 2 years ago, after being away for 10, I have absolutely loved the time I've been able to spend with my parents. They are really the best people on earth as far as I'm concerned. After seeing them at least once a week for the past 2 and a half years, it will actually be hard to not talk to them for over a month! My dad will have so many corny jokes saved up to tell me when I get back! I think I'll worry about them as much as they'll worry about me. *tear*

So even though I'll be back and forth during my year, and hopefully I'll see everyone again very soon, I decided it's still a perfect excuse to throw a going away party! And why have just one, when I can have as many as I want! So that's what I'm looking forward to over the next few weeks! It's a great excuse to let you all know how much you mean to me and how much I'll miss you! Drinking with friends is one of my favourite pastimes after all ;)