I've Got Gadgets And Gizmos A Plenty

First of all, I'm sorry for the amount of msn's/email's I've missed or haven't replied to yet. It's been a crazy week, as I'll explain. I will reply as soon as I can. Secondly, maybe this isn't the most exciting story in the world and, as I've been watching 'Alias'* recently, I'll make it more exciting by using a typical Alias-style narrative:

3pm Today:

The train pulled into the airport and I got butterflies in my stomach. I guess Jody's were bigger.

4 Days Ago:

The packing began but Jody, bless her, is what can easily and simply be described as a scattered mess**. Over the two years she's been here Jody accumulated thousands and thousands of items also known as junk. A self-proclaimed hoarder, she wanted to ship everything home to Canada, which was never going to happen. I spent the last 4 nights with her (and Rebekah, when she was free) binning everything. It was a struggle, and most of the time was spent convincing her that she could buy most of the things she wanted back home: 4000 pens, a box of 200 cotton buds and ridiculous quantities of every everyday items you can imagine. She was planning on shipping 100 books home - and that number's not an exaggeration - I think I got it down to 20. Most of the time, Jody sat around not doing much while I filled up bin-bag after bin-bag and she had panic attacks about going home.

Cutting a long story short, she didn't book her flight until 3 days before her departure, didn't pay her taxes until this morning, and expected me and Rebekah to sort out everything she's left behind and ship it to her. But I promised I'd go with her to the airport; for moral support AND to help with her bags.

Last Night:

About 10 of us went out to Karaoke to say goodbye to Jody. It was fun although strange that it would be the last time. We stayed up chatting and playing cards 'til 4am.

This Morning:

Absolutely knackered, but knowing I still had a lot to sort out, I got up early and finished the last of her packing. Excluding the two suitcases, her carry-on luggage was about as much as I brought with me to Japan - she wanted to take a holdall bigger than Sue*** as one of her carry-ons. I told her that no way was I going to bring anything home with me; whatever she couldn't get on the plane was going in a bin. Crying, panic attacks, and freak-outs ensued.

1 Month Ago:

Jody got a job teaching in Naples.

4 Months Ago:

The first Bell Wistarian I met was Jody. She spent my first day here showing me around, helping me register at the Ward Office, and introducing me to Sushi (and Natto, bleurgh).

4pm Today:

The check-in staff weren't too sure about her amount of luggage and she would have to see what security said at the metal detectores, but it wouldn't be my problem by that point. Jody was checked in and I gave her one last hug. I'm sure I'll meet up with her in Europe, but it seems like a long way off until then. She cried a lot, maybe I cried a little.

Back in Tsunashima now. It feels a little bit emptier. A little bit lighter. But change is to be embraced. Bless her and her hystrionics.

*Thanks again, Andrew.
**She'll never read this so no need to skirt around the truth.
***Last name Suitcase, for those not in the know