In a few minutes I am going to leave for my last day of work at my current newspaper in Belen, New Mexico. The word "Belen" means "Little Bethlehem" in Spanish, so for the last two years, I've enjoyed saying that I work in Bethlehem.
Yesterday I cleaned all my little knicknacks and photos off my desk and had lunch with my co-workers. They all gave me gifts ... mostly references to my mooching capabilities: A box of Kleenex from Sandy because I'm always popping into her cubicle to steal hers, a box of mints and a big bag of peanut M n Ms from Jessica, because those are the things I steal from her. Coffee mugs, magnets, things to remember my time there by. It was nice. And it helped me start to recognize that I am really leaving.
So today is my last day in Bethlehem. It feels weird.
Dan and I will be leaving tonight to go and visit Dan's parents in San Antonio, so you will be without my lovely voice for the next few days. Try to get along without me.