I didn’t actually intend to make my final day in Milwaukee (Friday, February 6, 2015) that special, but it became quite the day 😀
After staying up late Thursday night, I woke up early Friday morning (around 6am) to do laundry and dishes before going to work for a half day. Four hours of sleep wasn’t enough for me to simply jump out of bed, so the day was off to a groggy, sluggish start. I finally gathered all the sheets, towels, and blankets, then hauled them to the basement and started three loads of laundry. When I returned to upstairs, I realized the sun would be rising soon.
Instead of doing the dishes as I planned, I bundled up and walked the six blocks to the lakefront. Atwater Beach is always beautiful. Add a few dozen yards of frozen lake, several inches of snow, and a rising sun, I couldn’t have asked for a better morning (minus the excess of clouds) 🙂 Down the three flights of stairs I went to the snowy beach in search of some lovely pictures to remember home by.
There was a distinct line where the beach ended and the frozen lake began. I tread carefully across the frozen water to where the pier protrudes (in the summer). A sign kindly informed me that the pier was closed though and that I should stay off. For safety, I headed back towards the beach before going a little further south. There was a group of people taking pictures of the sunrise with their fancy—not point and shoot—cameras. They appeared to be preparing to leave, so I slowly meandered over, admiring the thickness of the ice and the sound of the waves lapping against it. I snuck in a few more pictures of the sun rising before heading back to switch my laundry and wash the dishes.
I’ll miss Milwaukee and Shorewood when I leave; I’ll miss the lake and the ease of staring at its vastness; I’ll miss the morning fog in the spring and summer from the lake; and most of all, I’ll miss how gazing at the lake—listening to the waves—gave me a sense of serenity and removed my mind from reality.
When I finally made it to work, there was much to be done in only a few short hours. Most of this wasn’t accomplished though because everyone decided we should do a group lunch. I may not have gotten along well with all of my co-workers, but enjoying a nice meal would be a good ending. Our favorite place to order from is China Taste; it’s delicious, cheap, and portions are generous. Lunch wrapped up as my 40 hours were coming to a close. I was given a going away/good luck card and said my goodbyes. On Wednesday, a co-worker even gave me a care package of soups, chocolate, peanut butter, and Hershey’s spread. Mouthwateringly good 🙂
The clock may have only read 2pm, but there was still much to be done. I had less than four hours before my mom arrived. However, I had at least double that in packing to accomplish. Why I allowed myself to fall so behind in my packing, I’ll never understand. While I focused on packing the kitchen (I hadn’t even started in there yet), my friend, Alex, stopped by briefly to chat and say good bye. Thankfully, I can do just about anything while simultaneously carrying on a conversation. By the time, my mom arrived, the kitchen was mostly packed 🙂
My mom and I ate a quick dinner—pizza from Falbo’s—while chatting about her drive, my day, etc. Then she dropped me off on campus, so I could enjoy the opening film of the Festival of Films in French.
I’ve been indulging myself in francophone films at this festival for three years now. I look forward to it each year and this film certainly wasn’t a disappointment 🙂 My friend, Eric, and I saw Elle s’en va starring Catherine Deneuve. This was the perfect film for me because Catherine Deneuve plays a woman who is unhappy with her life and goes on an unexpected road trip. (I’m unhappy in the States, so I’m moving. I’m going a lot further away than the opposite side of France though.) Overall, it’s a beautiful film and Eric was an excellent person to enjoy the film with. I’m so glad I got to see him one last time before moving.
Despite the movie only being 116 minutes, I paid dearly for those two hours with another night sans sleep. My mom and I stayed up until 1:30am packing. I still wasn’t finished though, so after only four hours of sleep, I was awake again to pack my remaining possessions. I had so much left though that even after picking up the moving truck as well as my friend, Beatrice, and her dad arriving to help pack said truck, I was still packing away. Beatrice helped me pack and find completed boxes for the truck while our parents did the heavy lifting. They were a great help and I’d have broken down in tears without their assistance.
I almost couldn’t believe my apartment was finally packed and empty. My life was now in the back of a truck (and my mom’s car). As I locked the door for the final time, I sighed in relief that this step was done. Loading the truck was something that’d worried me from the day I received my new job offer; and now my worrying was over. I could relax for the drive back to my hometown (with a stop to visit my great aunt and uncle 🙂 ), and finally let some tears fall for the city I chose to call home.
I don’t know when I’ll next see Milwaukee; the city that took me in at 18-years-old when I wanted nothing more than to get away from my little hometown and spread my wings. This city and its people—my family, friends, co-workers, instructors and professors, classmates—have had a profound effect on me and the woman I’ve become. Words will never be able to express my love and gratitude!
“Cut away every safety net, Live your life so you won’t regret the road” -‘We Are Giants’ by Lindsey Stirling and Dia Frampton