Carolina Farewell

“Load the car and write the note; grab your bag and grab your coat.
Tell the ones that need to know – we are headed north.”

- The Avett Brothers

The past two days have been… surreal. There’s really not a word for it. I’m sitting here entirely too late writing this just thinking…that’s it? All done? Leaving tomorrow?

Last night was my final night at the cafe, something I was greatful for but oddly felt weird leaving before the season was over. At the end of the night Bob came to give me my last check and handed me the envelope with a sort of sad smile and said “Just promise me you’ll use some of this to buy some warm socks.”

Everyone here thinks I’m crazy, and it’s kind of entertaining. Why go north? Why head the complete opposite direction of the sun and sand? I’d been doubting it myself for a couple of days. This wasn’t exactly a choice decision, at least not at first glance. I have every opportunity to go anywhere I want when the season ended, and I’m choosing a state that borders Canada? Land of CONSTANT SNOW? (Okay, okay. I know it doesn’t constantly snow in Canada, but give me a break.)

Today was spent going through old things, packing, throwing things away. Slowly I was reminded why I wanted to leave this state in the first place. Too many memories I didn’t want, too many things had just fallen apart. Moving doesn’t fix your life, but it’s a nice way to start over. I want to start over. At this point it doesn’t matter where I go. A place is just a place, right?

We had dinner, take out, from one of my favorite restaurants. Ordered one of my favorite meals (fried fish sandwich) and washed it down with a glass bottle of RC Cola. I walked barefoot down the road to pick up the food after we left the Community Store and watched as a couple dozen dragonflies flew overhead. I really hadn’t seen anything like that all summer, and it was just kind of…nice. I hate to sound like some sort of literary hero or over reminisce-y, but it was nice to just… finish the day on a good note.

My computer is all packed and ready to go, now, my car almost full to bursting. We have the last few items to stick in tomorrow before I leave – my boat departs at 6:30 in the morning so it should be an interesting race. And from there the journey begins.

I don’t know what is waiting out there on the road, or in Michigan, or beyond that. Sometimes, though, you just have to do what feels right. I look forward to whatever the world throws my way. Here’s to the places I’ve been and the places I’ll be later – so long, Carolina. It was fun, and sometimes not so fun, and wonderful, and so many other things…but it’s time for something new.

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I’ll be updating folks on Twitter tomorrow – follow @mandarific88 if you’d like to keep up with me on the road, and be sure to send replies during the day! It’ll be fun to see who’s cheering me on. :)