though all my work is now done.

and most of my stuff is all boxed up — albeit there are WAY more boxes in the ship pile than can actually stay there.

and even more in the must ride in the van pile.

and although i am aggressively ready to go, it hasn’t entirely clicked.

though i did pick out a pen store i am going to go to when i get there. just sayin’.

read a bunch of books that had been in a pile to read for the summer, got some work done, got a solid list done of all i have to do once i get back, and had a generally relaxing time.

then this morning woke up in utter panic about leaving and everything on my list for which i had so relaxingly made.

but alas, back home for a few days to pack my office, check everything off the list, and then heading back here for the last few days before my last week in montana. crazy.

+ last time at camp

+ last time at staff meeting

+ last time drinking beer on my porch

+ last time sleeping in my wonderful little house

+ last time i lead a youth trip – at least here.

+ last time i slept on this particular church floor

+ last time i had to settle stupid arguments of children at this particular church

+ last time i less successfully setteled stupid arguments of adults at this particular church

+ last time i did the weekly announcements

+ last time i had to listen to people make their little very “episcopalian” criticisms of the announcements

+ last time i camped with kids at this particular church

+ last time i bowled with kids at this particular church

+ last time i moved a sofa into an awkward part of the church (the one task i plan to be “too good for” as a priest)

+ last time i had to clean up the chaos the children rain down upon spaces (without a doubt that only applies to this particular church).

+ last time i sat through a court date for a kid at this particular church.

+ last time i slept in a box in the rain (at least as part of my vocation)

today is my last day working for the church, then i’m “on vacation” until I leave in a couple of weeks. i will still volunteer with the youth, but i’m done.

everyone thought i’d be sad, and i couldn’t let go or whatever.

nope.

i will miss them all and am incredibly thankful – despite the constant circus – for the time i had.

but the last day thing, at least, is awesome.

the first time was when i was figuring out how to pay for school. and that, blessedly, may be about taken care of for the first year with the warm embrace of donations and debt.

this time, it is so i could just pay someone to move my crap and clean my  house.

maybe i can just save money to do it. maybe just not buy things this month. like food.

“Hahaha, the Episcopal Church.”

Well, it did.

behold.

it is somewhat unfortunate that 55 days remain.

but at the same time, it’s truly remarkable that only 55 days remain.

and i have an address, most things wrapped up, and oh yeah, as of today, enough money to pay them to let me live at that address.

outstanding.

now i just have to make it through the next 57 days without doing anything to remarkably stupid.

and pack and move.

so many books.

so i began the one thing that had to be done and that no vast effort of society or individual could hinder: the boxing of the books.

to date i have:

boxed 49 complete boxes

boxed 5 nearly complete boxes

given away and/or sold 1 box

sent about 3 – 4 boxes into foster care.

it does not seem at this point that I am half done.

flippin’ discouraging.

Thanks for the email this morning notifying me after 2 months, my bag is missing. It is also good to know that apparently the 45 – 60 day countdown until you pay me back starts now, and not when I sent you the paperwork you asked for 1 month and 29 days ago.

Additionally, I hate you.

Sincerely,
a customer that will never ever let you touch her belongings again.

however, it turns out, i have really gotten bad at not audibly laughing when i shouldn’t.

i’m not sure if that’s better or not.

but alas, when i giggle like a 12 year old in the middle of stressful meetings, limited people get immediately mad and instead, they tend to just stare. and that just makes me giggle more.

burnout, cometh.

she called to confirm i had recieved my bag

i told her i had not

she asked me to list everything that was in my bag to better help them identify it.

i said i had sent in all the paperwork and had two things confirming they had recieved the paperwork.

she said yes we have the paperwork.

so i asked why she was calling.

then she repeated a line saying they were doing everything they could to find my bag.

i asked her why she was calling me.

she said it was to find out what was in my bag.

i said i sent it again.

she said i should see money in 45 days.

i said it had been 45 days.

then she said that they were doing everything they could to find my bag.

then i had to just say thank you because it was not fair to curse at a woman in bengledesh reading a script that clearly made no sense to her.