Sunday, May 13, 2007

Last Times

With about a month left before our life in Atlanta concludes, we have entered that phase of a big move in which one experiences the last time for this and the last time for that. I am particularly conscious of these moments because it is really hard to imagine how they could ever be experienced again, given that we are moving 9000 miles away (according to Google Earth). The picture above was taken last Sunday at the last party for my lab group. A few days before that I gave my last lecture to a graduate class. I visited Emory this week for the last time, spending some time with my ex-wife Patty as we (finally!) divided up the pictures from our previous life together. I also saw some of my former Emory colleagues on that visit, which will likely be the last time I see them. I had my last department-related meeting yesterday. It was a weird meeting to attend, as it was focused on the department's plans for the next five years, and my leaving has affected those plans. Today kicks off the last "normal" weekend in our house, as the movers arrive on Wednesday. I am taking a lot of pictures during these last times. It's a feeble attempt to keep these people and places frozen in time as my memories start to fade in the coming years.

2 comments:

Author! Author! said...

Ah, those very precious last moments - how many I have ached through. Sometimes, I think it is the only way to ever gain true appreciation for the little things you took for granted everyday. My husband - who typically initiates our many upheavals, is always the most sentimental when this time comes around, sighing loudly and claiming "This will be our last beer at sunset on the deck." or "This will be our last Taco al Pastor." ...and with no regards to the inevitable tears he knows it will force from my eyes...the rat!

The Prof said...

Maybe your husband was a little more manipulative than you think...I started to use "this will be a our last time..." to get my wife to eat a few meals she wouldn't normally want, such as Mexican (she's from England, so no surprise there), and, I hate to admit it, Arby's. They don't have Arby's in Oz, right?