I’m at a loss for words. I’ve tried for the last twenty minutes to explain what I’m thinking and feeling right now but I’m not up to the task.

In forty-one minutes I turn over my security badge with the oh-so-hopeful photo of a girl four years younger than I with hair much redder than my own and can that be…eyeshadow…? Yikes! Poor girl, what was she thinking?

In forty minutes I will drive away from this neighborhood where I’ve lived and worked for what feels like an eternity. If I had to divide my life up into meaningful and formative chunks it would be early childhood, grade school, high school, college, and West. I’m finally leaving this one behind.

In thirty-eight minutes I will start the newest “chunk” of my life. I’m excited one moment and terrified the next. I wonder what I will think of this pre-graduate school me in a few years when I’ve finished.

In thirty-five minutes I will get into my car and pop in some music to belt out on my sunny drive home. I will walk my puppies, make plans for the weekend, and plan for the start of school on Monday.

In three minutes I will probably say “to hell with it” and leave a half an hour early. I’m already experiencing a certain reckless freedom that I can’t remember ever feeling before.

And…with that…I say, “Fuck The Man!” I’m out of here.