5 more days

Five hours of packing yesterday. I was totally wiped out, mostly emotionally, so I read some of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and took a two-hour nap to prepare for my farewell party last night. A very nice friend organized the gathering at the yummy tapas restaurant, Pipa, which is part of ABC Carpet & Home. To get to the restroom, you actually had to walk through a closed-off portion of the store. Many friends turned up and they all coordinated to get me New York-themed gifts (see photo below), which worked out well because I had received LA-themed gifts at my work farewell party. A lot of people were meeting for the first time, and it was a testament to the spirit of everyone who came to see them getting along so well. Of all the things I'm leaving behind in New York, I know I'll miss my friends most of all. Fortunately, for only a couple of benjamins, I can get back here at a moment's notice.