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Shiver Me Timbers

When I was moving to New York City in 2000, Tom Waits’ “Shiver Me Timbers” became my anthem. Like then, I find myself listening to this song every day.

I’m leaving my family
Leaving all my friends
My body’s at home
But my heart’s in the wind

Preparing to leave Chicago is exciting and heartbreaking. I have a heightened awareness of daily routines and surroundings; I marvel at everyday moments as if they were milestones, or miracles.

Like walking home from work today. It was my last day of full-time work, and it was already dark when I left the office. I walked slowly past every restaurant and coffeeshop, being sure to take a good, long look inside each one; and continuing down the street, I gazed at each house as if it was going to be gone tomorrow. When people walked past me, I unabashedly looked right into their eyes, and when I came upon my favorite art gallery, I spent an extended pause in front of the window.

I smiled at the homeless man in front of the movie theater, enjoyed the drag of suitcases as students headed for the train station, and listened to a couple argue on the street corner. I looked up at construction and down at my feet taking steps on the sidewalk. Every moment seemed peaceful, quiet.

Where the clouds are like headlines
Upon a new front page sky
Shiver me timbers
’Cause I’m sailing away.

Saying Goodbye

We have little time left in Chicago, so we are doing our best to make the rounds. Dinner with my cousin. Brunch with my former boss. Dinner with Eric’s former co-workers. Dinner with my boss and his family. Dinner with Eric’s boss and his family. Weekly lunch (my new favorite thing) with girlfriends who work in the neighborhood.

And, over the weekend we got together with a group of friends (and lots of small children) at Nilufar and Shadan’s place. It was so fun, and so difficult. I knew it was going to be hard to say goodbye, but I didn’t know it was going to be this hard to say goodbye.

There are so many people here that we love -- and not enough time to see them all.

Moving is starting to feel real.

Good for Me

It’s a good thing I found a secret stash of dark chocolate in our office.

Otherwise, who knows what could’ve happened.

Chicago in Twilight

Chicago Stop, Red Line

Eric’s Wardrobe

We are building Eric’s wardrobe for his job in Haifa. The position is much more formal than the position he has had for the past five years, so we are pulling out every tie, shirt, and blazer.

Unfortunately, the ties don’t match his shirts, shirts don’t match his blazers, and blazers are too big anyway.

Tomorrow we go shopping.

North Shore Ride

I was hoping to take one last scenic drive north on Sheridan Road before moving overseas, but we are so busy that it seemed unlikely. Then, serendipitously, my boss asked yesterday if I could drive to Glencoe and pick up a CD from our client.

For a November day, the weather was gorgeous -- bright blue sky, slow-falling leaves -- so I opened the sunroof, played Khaled on my stereo, and sailed away with every curve and bend in the road.

Things are coming along quite nicely.