Leaving Las...Seattle?

            I deflated my mattress and packed all of my things into the Buick Park Avenue today. I’m leaving this place tonight.

            It’s been real Seattle. I won’t say it’s all been good as I have definitely had some lows in my time out here, but I think despite the dips, the average altitude has leveled out to higher than it has been in the past. I won’t say that Seattle is a terrible city, but simply that it’s not one of the greats. There’s no personality to it as there is in Chicago, or even Iowa City. There is at least an admirable personality. Iowa City is greater in that it knows what it is and has to offer its residents. I’m ready to return to you 713.

            I’ve been out here nearly 3 months, and looking back it seems a long time, but compressed, as all pasts are. My pocketbook has been more drained than it ever has but I hope to be on the road to recovery. I went out and tried to see your streets Seattle. They were rarely thriving with the life of those in Iowa City. There’s sadness here, and I’m done with it.

            Roommates and the few friends I have met here: I will miss you and am greatly sad that you will not be by my side in my future journeys. I’ve never been very good at maintaining contact with distant friends, but I hope I will be better with you.

            Today is probably the most beautiful day weather-wise I have ever seen in Seattle. I drove down John St. today and got repeated views of a blue sky with the space needle and Olympic mountains in the background. Birds swooped and sang in front of my car. The temperature is exactly what it should be, not too hot, not too cold. A truly perfect day. The one thing I can say I absolutely liked about Seattle is its beauty on a good day. I am both glad to leave on a high note and sad to leave such high notes behind.

            I really am just waiting away the hours here at the forum until my epic journey home. I hope to leave here around 8 or 9 PM and drive through the midnight hour. I’m not stopping overnight anywhere this time, simply taking 2-3 hour naps in my car at truck stops. It should be an adventure and I’m hoping to go insane. I’m spending the majority of my remaining hours compiling the ultimate playlist.

I don’t like goodbyes. It’s not because I miss people, or worry that I will cry, just that they are awkward. I feel like I have to say goodbye to so many people, and that I should share some sentiment with them, or embrace them, getting all caught up in the moment, but that’s just not something I do. Getting caught up in moments that is. I’m not too much of a sentimental type (others may disagree), and it really takes me a long time to bond with people in much sense. I will miss a few people here I guess, but in no more of a way than I miss high school acquaintances. I don’t mean to be cold, I’ve just never been the type to quickly bond and then miss people. One revelation I had while out here is that I genuinely people back in Iowa City and my family. It was life affirming in that I had the power to miss. WOO!

713 here I come!