Leaving for good

So today is my last day in Rochester!  I have extrememly mixed feelings about this.  On one hand, I am so excited to start this new chapter of my life and to go on this once in a lifetime road trip.  On the other hand, it has been really hard to say good bye this week to the people I have grown to love here.  Not knowing if/when I will see some of these people ever again is really hard to take in.  Everyone has been so great and really makes me wish I could take them all with me!
Last night, some people from Cross Currents (the team I've been rowing with for about 1 1/2 years) had a little farewell party for me. It was so wonderful to see the people who have been like family to me this summer and talk about all the fun we've had rowing together.  The regatta we had last weekend (where the woman's boat got 3rd place!) was such a great way to end my time with them.  They all signed a shirt for me and gave me some Cross Currents goodies.  It was so sweet.  I appreciated it so much and can not thank them all enough for welcoming me into their very diverse family!
Just got back from a lovely lunch of Sticky Lips BBQ with U of R friends/co-workers and packed up the car.  Everything surprisingly fits nicely in the trunk and back seat.  I am leaving for Troy, NY now to pick up my brother and then we head to Long Island (where my parents live) together tomorrow.  I can't believe I'm really leaving for good this time!