Sunday, November 2, 2008

The End (Is The Beginning Is The End...)

So I'm sitting here, and Bloc Party is playing ("Do you wanna come over / and kill some time..."). My feet have grown irrepairably smelly since I arrived in Dunedin, but only with the exemplary weather of the past few weeks has their ripe cheese odor authoritatively announced itself. There is a stack of twenty books behind me on the floor. Aside from "Robinson Crusoe" and "Humphry Clinker," I have no idea which others I also want to leave behind. Should I bring home my "Rough Guide to New Zealand"? On the one hand, if I ever need such a travel guide again the year will be somewhere around 2025 and half of this country's now-touted coastal sights will be underwater. On the other... I've grown to love that damned book!

My bedding was turned in yesterday a few hours after I passed my room inspection by a former Professor who spent ten minutes declaring I was "the uncannily spitting image of a former student of mine... Mark (somethingorother)? You know him? Played rugby? Ah, well, I supposed we've all got a twin somewhere out there, haven't we now? One time my wife went back to Ireland, and you wouldn't believe..." Anyway, the point is I don't have pillows anymore, so my monstrous snow jacket and Otago sweatshirt are rolled up into quite the uncomfortable lump where my head goes.

The walls are bare (save for the frequent knick or scratch, which makes them even MORE bare, you know?), as are the bookshelves.

I've said goodbye to everyone noteworthy.

I'm wondering who's going to be in here next.

My camera is charging for its voyage to Fiji.

And all of these trivialities are being painstakingly carried out in order to keep my mind off of the future. It's looming just out of reach, like a soft white cloud that could either float by merrily or turn into one devil of a thunderstorm.

Now I'll see you all even sooner than the last time I said this.

4 comments:

curtis said...

YEAH!!!!!! Its only days away!

O'Cash said...

AJ
your mom sent me a link to your blog and I've entertained myself all day (being a librarian allows for much easier procrastination)reading all of it. I was most entertained by your statement in your first post not to let your parents know about the blog. Guess that didn't last. What an amazing experience you've had. And Fiji next? As I gaze out the library window at the gray day, I am so jealous. I guess you need it before you return to Oregon for yet another winter. come visit when you get home.
O'Cash

kelands said...

eeeeeeeek! I loved your last post. So incredibly funny. It baffles me that you would allow someone who you despise so much, to travel with you. haha. see ya in the neighborhood!

Jeff said...

I know you're already back stateside now, and I'm excited to see you and introduce you to Alycia tonight, but I also want to say I'll be sad to see these posts go. In all honesty, for what it's worth, I would read any kind of blog you posted, whether it be about travels far away from home, or just your spin on the everyday life experience. Can't wait to see you AJ.