the story of your gypsy uncle.

Here I am, its Sunday.
Its the start of a new week. A big week. A sad week.

This is my last week in California.
I leave on Thursday.

And, try as I may, I cannot shake this sadness. My apartment is empty and sad, my boxes are (nearly) packed, and I've said most of my goodbyes. My head hurts more than I can say, and I'm alone in my living room watching the Apex logo bounce back and forth across the TV screen.

Here are the things I wished I'd have done while I lived here:
1. Visit the San Diego Zoo
2. Salvation Mountain
3. Griffith Observatory (since its re-opening)
4. Gotten a cabin in Yosemite (like we always talked about)
5. The Long Beach Aquarium (I never went!)

Here are the things I will miss the most:
1. Vientos y Aguas
2. Fingerprints
3. Taco Surf, Hole Mole, Taco Loco, The Secret Spot, and various other cheap amazing mexican food.
4. 2 Buck Chuck (its $3 in Oregon!)
5. Racquetball (tho I've not played in AGES)
6. Going to lots and lots and lots of shows for free.
7. LOST nights (and Project Runway nights, and Deadwood, and Big Love, and OC...)
8. Riding Bikes
9. The sunshine
10. My friends. I will miss them more than I can say.

I was looking around the other night at our 'house cooling party' and I had a realization. We have an amazing and expansive group of friends. I really do think we have something special.

While it started with a few friends from the Biola days, its expanded into an incredible community. We are really blessed to have such an expansive network of people who love and support each other -- and who love God and appreciate the arts. And I'm happy to see us expanding into other communities (Chicago, NY, St. Louis, Idaho, Portland, etc). I think this is a good time for us.

So, while I leave with sadness -- I know its not the end. In fact, I'll probably be back someday. And, my plan is to get the craziest job ever and get rich and fly down here every other weekend. Cool ? Either that or Erica and Cameron will get rich and I'll become their nanny. Either way, it works out.

So, for now, I guess that's all.
I'll miss you, Long Beach.

Sincerely,
Lindsay