Doc Hop

Well, it’s official, y’all! My time at Augusta University has finally come to a close. I cleaned out my office last week, I submitted grades last night, and I turned in my keys earlier today. I hustled to get it all done this week because I wanted to put my full focus toward setting myself up for success as CSULB as soon as possible. I cannot wait to drag up my next office — in a department suite with bright yellow walls! (CSULB’s school colors are black and gold, which I dig. My mom’s favorite color was yellow, and it’s become one of mine as well.)

Lemon is sure going to miss her walkies around the AU campus, but know that she will find plenty of spots to make her own in Long Beach. She’s never been to the beach, and I am so incredibly excited to take her. I never got to take my Yogurt to the Pacific coast, but Lemon and I are going to spend quite a lot of time there.

I’m slightly embarrassed to reveal how much progress I’ve made toward packing up my apartment since my last post. Call it excitement, call it nerves, call it procrastination — but I just couldn’t stop! By the looks of it you’d think I was moving in about two and a half days, as opposed to two and a half months. I’ve pretty much boxed up everything that I do not require to live comfortably for the interim. My drag photos are off the walls, my books are off the shelf, and I have thrown or or donated boxes of “junk” that just couldn’t make the California cut.

Living in this liminal space is a constant reminder of how close I am getting to where I need to be. It’s like two ends of a string, or a time loop, connecting myself in Augusta to myself in Los Angeles — winding tighter until it breaks.

Needless to say, it’s pretty bare around here. My living room echos a bit when Lemon barks.

In other moving news — the folding memory foam mattress I ordered arrived earlier in the week, and I think it’s going to be perfect for the one to two weeks I’m without a bed in California. It took it a full day to fully fluff out, but paired with my yoga mat it should work just fine. And best of all — the boys can’t pop it. I know, because they’ve already tried. My only issue will be finding room for myself once the pets have commandeered it.

I’ve already moved the mattress into the back seat of my car. I plan to nestle my diplomas in between it’s folds, because I just don’t trust that they wouldn’t get damaged in the move. Those frames were expensive and I do not want to replace them. My mom, Yoga, and Bob’s remains will also be riding with me. If I lose everything else, I’ll have what’s most important with me. Everything else is replaceable.

Lastly — I have pretty much completed all of my onboarding materials for California State University, Long Beach, at least as much as I can get done in Georgia. All I need is an address, which is my next and last major step toward getting to California. I’ve packed my entire life into boxes, and now I need somewhere to put them. I’ll be renting, so it’s an impossible process to begin too early. That said, I’ve kept my eye on the listings, I’ve added my name to a few wait lists, and I should begin to see some options within my timeframe pop up in the next couple of weeks. God willing and the creek don’t rise!