quiescence

Well, the party is over. My apartment is naught but an empty shell, my belongings packed or soon to be, my glorious bar of more than 100 liquors cleared away after having been consumed in good company and high spirits (I am left with a healthy remainder of 21 fine bottles for my own though ).
In a few more hours I'm off to the airport to fly to Glasgow, Scotland to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships with the rest of my band. I get to spend a week there practicing and sightseeing first, which should be a wonderful trip. The World's themselves with be a first for me, and I'm thrilled to go. It will be a great cap to a fun and fulfilling summer with my band, and a pretty strong reaffirmation of my presence and skill as a competing piper after a few years in decline and limbo.
Immediately after I return from the World's I move to Boston, whereat I'll begin my attendence at BU for my MA in History. I get to leave Ohio for one of the coolest cities in our country and the surreal life experiences of a grad student.
Despite all this, I'm a bit sad right now. There are many people that I'm leaving behind in Ohio...friends that I've known for years, and a few new acquaintances that I wish I could say the same for. Even my apartment is trying to hold me back...I'll miss it against all reason and probability. No, I'll miss the times I've had here with the people I care about.
So, Ohio, it's time to doff my hat and say farewell. I'm off to go kick some ass in Glasgow, and (academically speaking) get my ass kicked in Boston. I'll miss you.