Time

For many, it's just another dull, dreary, disappointing Monday morning.

For me, it's my last Monday morning in D.C. for a long, long time.

I woke up a little groggy and a little grumpy. I shaved and took a shower. I ironed my shirt on the table over a tower because after eight weeks here I still don't have an ironing board. I decided against a bagel, so I could sit with Alex on the eight o'clock bus, but she wasn't there -- I didn't get my Alex fix this morning before work!

It hit me on the bus: this is my last week in D.C. I got sad. I thought, " This isn't fair. Why do good things always have to end?"

Then I saw a Porsche on the road -- it made me smile. It kind of knocked me on the head: life isn't bad just because I'm leaving. It just means I need to cherish everything that much more!

So this morning I took extra care to notice everything -- to notice anything. I thought of a mental picture my economics professor used: when you look at a fence, that's all you see, but as you gradually move closer and look between the slots, a whole new world opens up behind them.
This morning I looked for that world.

I'm wearing my favorite pants -- they're gray pin-striped slacks from Banana Republic, and the only reason I could afford them is because my aunt and uncle got me a gift card for Christmas last year.

I listened for all my favorite songs on my MP3 player (and since it's a mix, I wasn't disappointed ever!).

I saw a Porsche, a Mustang and Corvette -- I love cars!

I saw a funny man riding a bike with a Connecticut jersey.

I saw a quaint little antique shop I'll probably never walk into, but I know my parents like antiques, so maybe I'll give them a heads up.

I saw the hotel at Dupont Circle I thought was so cool my first time there. I want to stay there sometime, even if I end up living in D.C.

I loved Dupont Circle to the same degree I did my first time there. I walked to the escalator and saw the man passing out Express newspapers -- I kindly declined.

I noticed all of the people frowning. I decided to be the one person smiling because I love life and D.C. and the Metro, even if it is late sometimes.

I took 91 steps down the escalator -- yes, I counted!

I looked at every person on the Metro and tried to see something different and unique in each of them. Highlights: I saw a man with Harry Potter glasses. An old man had a roller backpack -- I HATE them. I want to KICK them! Another man had a hearing aide. I saw a cute older woman in all black and white. She had these awesome glasses with beaded string to hold them on. She looked like a librarian only classier -- Library of Congress maybe?

I also saw a younger man get on. He stood in front of me, and he had a buzz haircut (i.e. really, really short). I love people like this. I like to look at their heads and see if there are bald spots. If they are really big or long, they probably ran into a table at some point in their life or got kicked playing soccer. Maybe that's morbid -- I call it a good time.

Oh, and he only had one little bald spot (probably just genetic or something).

I got off the Metro and proceeded up the escalator at Union Station. I cut off a man that tried to cut me off. I went into commuter mode and outwalked almost everyone. I love how fast I can walk comfortably. It makes me feel like all business all the time.

I got my favorite breakfast from my favorite place (Swiss oatmeal: cold oatmeal with milk and yogurt and raisins, bananas, apples and craisins). It's simply to die for! And I got my morning coffee.

I came to work. I LOVE our receptionist. She calls the me and one of the other interns here partners in crime -- we do keep this office lively! I passed out newspapers (got new print on my hands!) and caught up on my Facebook. And I had a "Gtalk date" with Alex.

Now it's time to bust out the econ paper, study and actually get a little work done too.

Since then I've been blogging about my glorious life.

Oh, and I'm in print again today! I don't think the thrill that brings will ever die -- something I've written has been immortalized. I love words, the craft of putting them together and the huge responsibility that comes with doing so -- it's powerful.

Sure, I only have one week left in D.C., but I'm going to make the most of it. I have an amazing job, amazing classes and even more amazing friends here. There's no way I'll let what I have waste away as I pout about it ending.

Now, I'm just hanging by a moment. And I wouldn't change it for the world.