"I'm leavin on a jet plane..."

"All my bags are packed
Im ready to go
Im standin here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin
Its early morn
The taxis waitin
Hes blowin his horn
Already Im so lonesomeI could die

So kiss me (New York) and smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
Hold me like youll never let me go
cause Im leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Theres so many times Ive let you down
So many times Ive played around
I tell you now, they dont mean a thing
Evry place I go, Ill think of you
Evry song I sing, Ill sing for you
When I come back, Ill bring your wedding ring

So kiss me (New York) and smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
Hold me like youll never let me go
cause Im leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
Ill be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I wont have to leave alone
About the times, I wont have to say

Oh, kiss me (New York) and smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
Hold me like youll never let me gocause
Im leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
But, Im leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go"
-------------------------------------------
Wow, I guess this is it. It feels so weird, unreal and extremely sad. Today I head back to Provo and leave the home I’ve known for the last 8 weeks: New York City. I have loved my time here and the many people that I’ve met, as well as those I’ve had the chance to meet. There are so many experiences that I’ve had and couldn’t have learned from any other way. I’ve met so many great people who have inspired me, changed me, taught me and molded me for the better.

I can’t believe it’s already over. Although some days it seemed like I had been here for months, others seemed like it had been a handful of days. This is one of those experiences you never really see ending until its too late.

I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see, and leave with no regrets. But this is a hard transition time for me. I’m not sure if its because I’m leaving the city or because I’m leaving all my friends, but I imagine it’s a combination of both. I’ll see some of the 37 people at BYU that I’ve become so close to over the last 2 months. But many of them will stay, others will move home while they look for jobs and all of us are moving on to new stages in our life. The ones that cause it all to come to an end.

I realize its just a part of growing up, but this is one of those “grown up moments” that I hope to never have to live again. It hurts too much to say goodbye to it all.

I’m excited to get back to “reality” and live my BYU life again, but I’ll miss the city and playing every night. I’ll miss my own room, but I won’t miss only being able to eat out or at a cafeteria. I’ll miss the atmosphere but I won’t miss the cigarette smoke plagued streets. I’ll miss the rain, but I won’t miss the humidity…too much (although I think my skin will). I’ll miss the street vendors but I won’t miss the bums. I’ll miss my job but I won’t miss the millions of media lists and tedious tasks delved out by one of the employees at ATC (Melissa, you know who I’m talking about). I’ll miss the fun group activities and our hallway parties, but I won’t miss the community bathroom and showering with flip flops.

There are so many great times that I’ve enjoyed and I’m glad that I was able to take all of you along for the ride. Thank you for your comments, your advice and support. Thanks for just being you! Please be patient with me as I adjust to my life in Utah and try to figure out where I’m going to go come December. I’m excited to see you all and share with you some more of my fondest NYC memories. It’s true; I HEART NEW YORK!

-mk