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Gone Like Yesterday

From The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

"The police will notice and take you away," said one of my supportive friends.
"They won't burn," said another. "There won't be enough air circulation."
"The box will sink and the business cards will float and everyone will know it was you."
"You'll set a swan on fire."

What marks the finish, the completion of something?

8 weeks ago, I thought 8 weeks would be the perfect duration - a gentle winding down of my life in England.  Time to do everything it was important to me to do.  I didn't want my time in England to just be over; I wanted it to be complete.

So I had 8 weeks of last time dinners.  A farewell tour of Scotland.  The church called a new minister (finally!). I delivered a long promised loaf of Challah to friends.  I bought tickets to the Cabinet War Rooms and a play at Theatre Royal Windsor.  And by the time on Monday that two nice men took away all my things, I was in the mood for symbolic gestures.

One of the things the movers left behind was a stack of business cards with my name and the title I've had for 5 years.  I put crumpled newspaper into an empty shoe box and layered on the business cards.  Then I tried to find people to help me set it afire and adrift in the river. 

I do not consider myself to be a risk taker and I like to keep on the right side of the law, but I had not anticipated such concern on part of my friends for the local flora and fauna.  And their own reputations.

But I would not be disuaded and in the end we found an acceptable solution.The business cards were shredded (to improve air circulation).  A deserted section of River walk was identified.  The shoe box was placed in a metal roasting pan placed on the sidewalk.  The newspaper was set ablaze with a borrowed lighter.  And the glowing ashes were tipped into the river (and splashed with river water to prevent them setting fire to any overhanging twigs or grass).

If any policeman or swan noticed, they didn't bother to come investigate.  If they had, I would have told them -
this 5 years of my life is not just over, but finished.

Farewell, dear England.

Comments

  1. Grace PowellThursday, March 13, 2014

    Love you. I'm glad you had this closure. Can't wait to give you a hug!

    ReplyDelete
  2. VanessaThursday, March 13, 2014

    I'm so happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousFriday, March 14, 2014

    We continue to ask God to guide and guard you in your new "venture". Love you - Mom

    ReplyDelete
  4. ThomasFriday, March 14, 2014

    The bookish part of me has always found that old useless business cards make great bookmarks I don't care to lose...

    There should be a parcel waiting for you in Tulsa by now. ;-)

    Farewell !

    ReplyDelete

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