So it’s over. I’m officially unemployed and no longer live in the convent. I’m still in shock. All of my roommates and I are in agreement that it doesn’t seem possible that it’s over, but it is. As of yesterday I am in Florida, visiting my sister and her family. I was going to write a big witty/poignant final entry, but it didn’t happen, partially due the craziness of moving and partially due to the fact that the convent got struck by lightening and we haven’t had internet for the last two weeks. So it goes. Here will be an abbreviate version.

At Mercy Center, my bosses Mary and Joe took Kathleen and I out for a goodbye lunch in Little Italy in the Bronx. It was a very cool place, and I look forward to taking visitors there for some good Italian food. It was nice to see a different part of the Bronx, and it felt like a whole different world. Then the whole staff threw us an ice cream sundae party, where we made speeches and cried into our ice cream bowls. The day was made even more sad/nice because families kept stopping in to say goodbye. It was semi-heartbreaking to leave the people we have come to know and love. It’s hard to know that we entered into their lives for such a short time and now are abruptly leaving. It’s easier for me than Kathleen though, because at least I will still be in the city. I hope to continue to be involved at Mercy Center in some form next year.

On the home front, we spent our last weekend together camping on Long Island at Wildwood State Park. If we were going for some alone time, we were disappointed, because the “campsites” were more like parking spaces, and we were surrounded by other tents just a few feet away on all sides. I guess you just can’t get away from the crowds when you’re still that close to New York. However, we still had a great time, just hanging out, walking on the beach, playing cards and sitting by the campfire. It was very relaxing and we got to enjoy each others’ company one last time.

Then Monday, Anna left bright and early at 5:00 in the morning. We got up to send her off, although we wanted to do what the sisters downstairs had suggested, stand in the front of the car to “prohibit her leaving.” They are so cute. I spent Monday going back and forth to Brooklyn to ferry the rest of my stuff to the new apartment, thankfully with the help of my roomies. I was the next to go, leaving early Tuesday morning, and now here I am. I’m still processing the abrupt transition.

In fact, I’m still processing a lot from the year. I learned so much and had so many unforgettable experiences. When I see you, feel free to ask, I’m sure I will be happy to talk about it. This was going to be the end of my webjournal, as this originally I was only going to be in New York for a year, but now I am staying. I think I will continue it, especially as I start the Fellows program, so you can stay tuned for more NY minutes in the fall I think…

For now, I will leave you with a few pictures. See you in September, if not before…