Durham Farewell

August 9, 2013

This is it, my final evening in Durham, NC. To some this may seem as quite a shock. For me, I started contemplating this idea many months ago. With my physical state of health still preventing me from “doing my job” at Duke, I had to start thinking of other courses of action for my life. I feel myself getting stronger every week, but timing is everything. The speed of my recovery hasn’t been matching other’s expectations. The reality of that I can do nothing about, and I have made the choice to accept it.

With the amount of times I have moved in the past, this transition is familiar. Some might find it a bit un-nerving. I will admit I used to. However, now I have learned the importance of closure, which requires so much attention that fear doesn’t have anything to hold on to.

This week has been a whirlwind of tasks and events that revolve around leaving well.   A checklist of things I must do is always part of the deal, but this round had some tailored events reflecting my efforts to be involved.

Ice cream with my roommate Ting 

From a flower-making party to lunch with co-workers to ice cream with a roommate, I have never experienced such a full social calendar! When I think about leaving, this is one of the hardest things to cope with. I often think about those relationships that have just begun that won’t have time to be nurtured. I know the temptation to keep people at arm’s length because of it. The wonderful moments that I have experienced this week would have never come if I had decided not to risk it, to invest in relationships without knowing the outcome. I am thankful to all of those who took the risk with me. You will be missed.

Flower making with the Grace ladies

Members of the Scarves for Moldova crew