It is Halloween and the eve of this year's NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month...every November...30 days and 50,000 words). So, I thought before I plunge into the depths of my literary imagination, I'd stretch my fingers and awaken my very lazy Inner Writer. So much has changed since I set out with this blog and I'm struggling to grasp it. I set out with this blog as a graduate student and on this past Wednesday, I stood in a black robe on Ryerson Theatre's stage to be hooded and handed a Master's diploma. What I set out to do I accomplished, which became quite obvious as I proudly sang the Canadian national anthem (and yes, I know all the words). I set out for an adventure in Toronto...and I got one.
But all good things come to an end.
Such a great part of my Northern adventure took place because I crossed paths with Shannon, the Australian, who quickly became my friend and then my boyfriend. Toronto was an adventure for him, a year abroad, complete with a proper frozen winter. I even followed Shannon to Australia for several months, beginning another adventure in another country. I returned to work on my thesis and I flew back to the US with a draft and an engagement ring. Little did I know when I came to Toronto that underneath those city lights (and out front of a Pizza Pizza) I would find my future husband.
And he wasn't Canadian.
Now, with a diploma in hand, I plan to move in January 2009 halfway around the world to a country that is also a continent and make my life there. I'll be planning a wedding that will take place in July and settling in. Who knew that when I first left the country I would continue to leave over and over again? This has sparked my wanderlust apparently.
And so Wednesday I made some tearful goodbyes to my city campus and my old favorite haunts (Futures and Hemingways). I will see them again someday and meanwhile, I will remember every day in Toronto fondly. I went there for an adventure and found it. All that was left was to receive my diploma and say goodbye.
But, like I said when I started this blog, from every ending comes a new beginning.
And once again, here's to new beginnings. Still under bright city lights.
