Day 28: Goodbye to Duesternbrook

After two days, I said, “Desert. Brush. Sand. I get it Ready to go.” I imagined Rick Steves saying this was a two day, one night destination; and I wondered how I was going to entertain myself for 28 days. Of course, I hadn’t really seen anything, because the complexity of a place doesn’t come from its landscape.

Now I wonder how I will leave. I love hearing Claudia’s stories every day and folding the napkins and setting the table with Getrud. I want to be here when Kasiki takes his driver’s exam. And the thought of leaving Anna and never seeing or hearing from her again… I can’t imagine.

There are at most 25 people here—not even enough to fill the seats in a NYC subway car—and everyone lives and works in an area the size of two city blocks. But, because of this, each person is important. I care about them, and I’ve worked hard to make a place for myself in their world. But tomorrow a van will come for me and I will get in it. I will say goodbye and turn my head and never see them again.

Somehow this will happen. I know it. But I prefer not to think about it right now.

Pictures: Some people I admire: Claudia, Getrud, and Kasiki; cute little Anna; and a final shot of me at Duesternbrook

Tomorrow the rest of my journey begins…