The End Is Near

The final countdown... T minus 2 hours and 34 minutes until I walk out of the Mission Control Center for the last time as a Watchstander.

I don't know if it is the hassle of getting myself up to speed with all of the NAVO stuff (meaning security clearance and basic geology stuff, terms and the like) or if I am simply ignoring the fact that this really is it. Maybe it is because, for once, I am okay with the way things are going. Who knows.

I had to say a good-bye last night to my co-worker, Michael. It was short and sweet. Tonight, Matt stayed around for an hour and a half. He is always so slow with flagging bad data (probably because he was talking too much during the day and/or he was snoozing on the job), but we were able to catch up on the last month of life and laugh about a couple of things. He said good-bye tonight, since he won't be at the farewell dinner on Tuesday. Ah. It kind of sucked... slightly relieving was it now that there would not be that friend/awkward profession of love tension anymore. But it sucks to leave a friend that, as Bob put it Christmas Day, from first impressions and listening to our conversations, has been a friend forever. He was honestly the easiest person to talk to and joke around with in the MCC.

I also had to say good-bye to Chris Wills tonight. He invited me to speak at his church for his wife/VBS in the summer since their theme was Africa. He is a quiet man and was one co-worker that I struggled to find topics to talk about. But once he opened up, it was super enjoyable. He is a Christian man, that actually shared his testimony with me last night, a hard worker, doesn't put up with crap and fusses when it is necessary. I have seen him raving-mad only once, and it was a legitimate reason. He hugged me good-bye and told me to stay in touch with the MCC. There was a slight need to cry after he walked out and I heard the door close, but the tears were far and few.

Tuesday night will be the absolute last night with these guys (and gal). Bob has organized a farewell dinner for Bill Burnett, the #2 man at NDBC that is also going to the NAVO side in the Naval Command Center, and myself. It is looking like it will be more than just the MCC and could be a 20+ crowd, since family is invited too. Tuesday night will probably be a hard one. But I plan to take pictures in hopes to post them and let you put faces to names. Sad stuff.

I'm excited about moving on. And people, that NEVER happens. I think I'm not quite as sad as I thought I would be knowing that NDBC is right up the road... and so are my friends, both young and old. For the record, I am so grateful for this place being my first place of employment. It has taught me a lot of things meteorologically and personally. I am also grateful that I have been able to handle shift work, as this is (in my opinion) an accomplishment. And last but not least, for someone that loves to multitask as much as I do, it was honestly paradise in that respect. But alas, I move on....