What a day. Full of a bizarre mix of emotions. I’m not sure I can totally put it into words, so for now I’ll just stick to the photos.
Well, what do we have here?
My last work lunch for a while included a big salad with a side of carrots and Livin’ Spoonful raw crackers, along with 2 apples, a vegan oatmeal raisin cookie from Candle, and a tupp ‘o zuppa.
This was the other half of Amy’s Southwestern Veg soup bulked up with extra frozen veggies (corn and broccoli).
As for the cookie, well, it wasn’t exactly love at first bite. It was good, I mean it IS a cookie after all! But not sweet enough for my taste buds. I only ended up consuming half at lunch (but I had the rest later that night).
Salad of champions: spinach, carrots, cherry tomatoes, dried cranz, pepitas, chickpeas, and raw crackers. Holler.
Work was bittersweet. Saying goodbye to people was such a weird feeling. I mean obviously I will still be in touch with my close friends, but the truth of the matter is, more likely than not, I will never see a majority of these people again. Ever. That is so weird, and it still hasn’t totally hit me yet. I mean, I have a few coworkers that I will definitely still keep in contact with (and hopefully see again in the future), but the rest of the staff – the people I saw on a day to day basis, the people who shaped me as a nurse, the people who witnessed a major transitional part of my life (moving to a new/foreign city, getting engaged, etc.) – will be over 3,000 miles away from me. Odd.
I think the reason it’s so hard for me to put my feelings into words, though, is because I wasn’t particularly close with my coworkers (in fact I did a fairly decent job of keeping my work life separate from the rest of my life). And yet, in terms of the influence they had on me professionally…it’s indescribable. Without a doubt, they will forever be a part of me. But because I was leaving them (after they invested years of training to mold me into the perfect ICU nurse), I was nervous that they would see it as me abandoning them and moving on to bigger and better things the West Coast. In the end though, I felt nothing but genuine support and happiness. It was a really nice feeling when people were giving me heartfelt goodbyes and wishing me well. All in all, the perfect way to bid the unit adieu.
Don’t get me wrong though, the day wasn’t all teary hugs and kisses…I definitely worked my a$$ off all shift long (still saving lives here people!), but for the most part, it was a good last day.
After work I met a few nurse-y friends (Kyle’s term) who weren’t working that day, plus Kyle and Ethel for drinks at SideBar (a few block from the hospital).
“What’s on tap? I’ll take it!” – Elise (girl on a mission)
In addition to the double order of beers I guzzled down, we also ordered a few apps, including two three orders of hummus (with a side order of crispy chips) plus an order of guacamole (again with a MEGA order of chippies).
Ethel has all the photos…so once she’s back in CA she may get a post up.
Q: What’s worse than absent-minded wandering through Union Square WF?
A: Wandering through WF when you’re a bit tippppsy.
Talk about a difficult task! I combined the above seaweed salad with a spiralized zucch/squash mix, baked ‘fu, and sweet potatoes.
Multiply times dos.
Followed by the aforementioned 1/2 of my vegan cookie from Candle.
And then, some late night cravings kicked in HARD core…
Which could only be satiated by a super milky tea and a choco-walla bar.
Sadly, Ethel was West Coast bound in the AM, so I had to say goodbye to my girl. Talk about a jam packed visit though. We had SO much fun.
Fortunately, parting wasn’t too tearful because in weeks (!!) we will be neighbors once again in the City of Angels.
Oh, college. 🙂
Sounds like it was a good last day–I am glad 🙂 I have moved on from a few jobs too, and it IS odd, isn’t it? The fact that you work with these people day in and day out and are “close” to them without really being all that close to them and then bam! It is over one day and you will probably never see them again, like you say. Very strange. But anyway, I am happy to hear it was all good. Did they do anything special for you? A little gift/party/anything? You are, after all, the the perfect ICU nurse, lol 🙂
Courtney
You did it! Sounds like the best possible last day of work.
That angel photo is amazing.
Haha! Great photos
Leaving anything is always so odd. It’s good and bad. Always.
HOWEVER, those last pictures made me fall a little bit more in love with you. Didn’t even know that was possible. xoxox
true life: i ate too much seaweed salad growing up and now don’t like it. so so so sad.
leaving work is totally bittersweet (kind of like leaving college even though that’s so much more bitter). onto new things! ya gonna be great.
I completely know what you mean about that bittersweet feeling of leaving. I’m always way more sentimental about something years after it’s over than I am in the moment. It takes me time to put it all into persepctive.
I always find it hard leaving a job or group of people but it sounds like your last day went well – it’s always better leaving on a positive note. Last two photos = adorable!
Hmm I feel like we food bloggers need a term for drunk grocery shopping. I’ll get back to you when I come up with something…
leaving can always be bittersweet
hahaah drunk grocery shopping…i dont even want to know what would end up in my cart!! probably such a scary mix of things!!
love the photos and that salad IS a salad of champions! i love dried cranberries 🙂
Ooh, I’m going to miss photos of your packed lunches…I’m sure they will return someday :-). I get SUCH lunch inspiration from you.
I can’t imagine leaving my job for the exact same reasons…although I’m not best friends with my co-workers, I could NEVER have survived the last two years on my own. Isn’t it funny the different spectrum of relationships that we have in our lives?
can you BELIEVE it!!! you’re so close to cali i can smell it for you 🙂 and i won’t lie that i’m not super happy for you that the weather here has been gawjy so you can enjoy it!
sadly i feel like your feelings about coworkers happen a lot! same thing with me and past jobs but i’m sure they feel like losing you is equally as sad!
girl, congrats on the last day!!!!!!!!!! and for making it to bigger and brighter pastures, oh in cali greener pastures are called vineyards. or the beach. how awesome!
I love this, I love you, I am sooooo happppppppy for you! yes, a bit scary the unknown, but it’s 98% a relief for you, im sure, and only like a little tiny bit scary. But a good scary. I kinda may be feeling the same way 🙂
Congrats on your last day! Yeah, I can’t imagine leaving here,, coworkers – what an odd relationship, right?
Sounds like they sent you off with a cheer though, and that’s awesome. I’m sure you made an awesome impression on them 🙂
Now you’re done!! Crazy. As in, crazy fun.
oh girl…take all the good from NYC, don’t forget it and pay it forward when you move back to the east coast. i am so excited for all these changes because i really have SUCH a great feeling that beautiful, wonderful things are ahead for you and kyle. ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY the rest of your time in NYC, and i am only sorry i could not wander WF with you drunk. guess we’ll make it happen in cali…
happy thursday 🙂
Sounds like a good yet bittersweet last day. What a well rounded lunch, great going!
Love the choco-wallas! The fact that you went grocery shopping while tipsy is hilarious and sounds quite fun 🙂
countdown fa sho!