Chapter 170: Division Street Debutante Departure
The beginning of the bonding
Over the last week, two of my studiomates and really good friends Nadene and Shana left to go back to school. The loss of these two great people really impacts my life and each others.
Shana you may remember as our sassy studio goal-getter who kicked much ass on the construction site and earned the nickname "trouble". She was a great motivator and really knew how to get things done. She stayed at Hands On the whole time never abandoning base even when other people were moving off and the place really benefited from her energy. For her last hurrah, she went to the trouble to get a beach burn permit so that we could have a kick ass bonfire on the beach and all sit around and celebrate life in general. We burned the old Mardi Gras chair from '06 and it really felt like the dirge that signaled the end of an era that happened at Hands On over the last couple of months and heading into January. It was cathartic and it was bombastic and it was somber all at the same time. Shana is heading up to the frozen north of Minnesota to polish off her thesis year and then who knows.
Shana's Going Away Bonfire
The second departure which actually happened earlier was Nadene who I mentioned earlier in my blog for the equally excellent going away party the Women of Architecture threw her at their house. Nadene was a woman who epitomized cool and was always there when you needed someone to talk to or to rock out with. She is going back to Auburn to finish off her final year there in the Architecture program.
Nadene and I
Whatever these two happen to do after they get done, I'm sure the firm or organization that has them will benefit greatly from their experience here on the coast, in life, and their amazing attitudes in general. Hopefully I'll get to see both of them soon.
Cake at Nadene's Going Away Soiree