last call, montreal

i'm sitting in my empty room, on my last night in montreal. i have no furniture and no drapes; it leaves an echo, and a clear view from where i sit to the apartment across the street. red and gold lights make the outline of a large star and christmas tree which shine brightly from their apartment, all the way across the street to light up my room.

it is freezing cold tonight, and a full moon. the city was bustling, even though. mike and i headed down to le divan orange for our last dinner as room-mates (food made with love by catherine, the newly departed chef from santropol roulant). we watched manouche play a live show. smoky, and oh so montreal. the scene was colourful and joyful inside, a sharp contrast to the plumetting temperature outside.

i absolutely love my room like this ~ empty, open, clear. i love this view, and the simplicity. tomorrow i will have only my knapsack ~ full of christmas presents for family, winter clothes for toronto, and summer and travel gear for mexico and india. the rest of my belongings are now stacked in a storage unit, and i KNOW that when i return that i will not need or want most of what i packed.

the absolute BEST part of packing was finding the perfect gift for each of my friends among the many things i've collected and loved over the years ~ and so we had a going away party last night, where i got to give the going away presents to everyone! the gift really is in the giving! and it is so thrilling to know that all those things are going to be loved and used and given a new home. they will be given a completely new life, and so will this room when mike infuses this space with his character and things and habits.

i actually already feel like i'm travelling ~
with only one bag for tomorrow,
sitting here on an empty bed that will stay;
it is only i who go.

montreal sends me its signature farewell;
a massive snowfall tomorrow,
an apt parting gift
from this wintry city!