"The way you do anything is the way you do everything."

I am fighting my inclination to leave without saying anything. I have made space to be with people--in groups, mostly, some individual farewells--though I keep wishing I had just packed my car two weeks ago and gone quietly north, informed people that I was gone once they asked, but said nothing beforehand, certainly not goodbye.

Last night Liz came to say goodbye to Lyra, and also, theoretically, to me, though it didn't really feel like goodbye, or so much like anything, between us. She said, "It's really more like 'see you soon,'" and though she is right, there is still a finality for me, a finality in me.

Tonight I see Abbi and tomorrow, Lauren, and then it's over; Saturday with JRoss and Sunday I'm Vermont-bound.

I am doing my best to say goodbye, doing my best to stay here until I am actually gone, to stay here until I said I would leave, to mark the end on the calendar where I have already marked the end on the calendar and to not quit before and to not quit quietly.

Later, Brooklyn, I will say, I am saying. See you soon.