Day Zero

The day before I leave, and everything has gone well up to this point. I have closed down the apartment, donated the big ticket items to Habitat for Humanity, and thrown away a lot of meaningless clutter. Walking through the empty apartment one last time was tremendously sad. It's funny how the Christmas memories come flooding back at times like these. Those are powerful bits of electrical imprints that get wrapped in emotion and stored in ye ole noggin. I hated that apartment, but I love the people that shared it with me.

Leaving Wachovia was a very different experience. Most companies treat an exiting employee as if it's the breakup of a romantic relationship. They seem to have hurt feelings, and do their best to kick you in the ass on the way out the door. The people I worked with at Wachovia were/are very professional and very nice. How rare.

Normally at a time like this, before a big journey, I am amped up and more than a little apprehensive. Not this time, for some unknown reason. Maybe it's because on this trip, it's only me, and I do not need to worry about the kids, and how the trip will be on them. This feels like I'm in the right place at the right time. This is what I am supposed to be doing. I wish I had had more time to study China, and to learn more about the language and the culture. I have been trying real hard to study the Chinese numbers, but for some reason can not remember 5, 6 or 7. Maybe they don't use those numbers that much in Shanghai. More than anything I enjoy not knowing what is right around the corner. I am outside the cubicle.