My last day with DG. What a finale it was too. When I turned in my two weeks earlier, the future was murky at best. Thankfully, I received the phone from Doc that changed my life the night before! He told me the arrangements were finalized so now Doc’s boss needed to know how soon I’d arrive. Due to the TSR-GDW lawsuit, packing and wrapping up my affairs in IL, I said I’d see him in two weeks. My friend agreed to it and said to let him know if anything changed.
Going to DG then was great. All those jerks wallowing in their schadenfreude would get some bad news, I had something lined up and I was off to live in a nicer, warmer climate. The day was spent saying goodbye to Christina, the customer service ladies, the paperwork with HR and Rad was allowed to have dinner with me during his shift. I thanked him by buying his meal and apologized for any of the karma I may have cost him. Rad took it well, fewer things bother him like me.
I drove home from Peoria for the second-to-last time, looking forward to all the free, limited time I now had. Whenever the packing felt overwhelming, I reminded myself about Austin’s “superior” weather to Bloomington’s. Fewer freezing mornings and evenings when my hands would be in too much discomfort to write or type. No more shoveling snow. No more rock salt damage to my Chucks.
Imagining Austin’s climate worked to motivate me. Everything I needed to ship via UPS was ready to go in a week so I could spend my final Chicago weekend with the Silders, Phil and the Bryants. I can’t remember why I didn’t see Brian, he must’ve been busy or out of town.
My last commute to Peoria came a week later. I had to attend the TSR-GDW lawsuit as a witness. What a bore really. At least TSR’s law firm reimbursed me for the gas and a meal. I spent the bulk of the day sitting outside of the court, doodling and enjoying my new PowerBook 140 (I sold my LC and scored this used portable from a real estate agent). My time on the stand was brief and rather forgettable. Practically everyone I recognized there knew I was leaving for Austin. As I said, if TSR wanted to drag me into this mess any further, it was going to be expensive because I wanted to get on with my life, put Gygax’s latest failure behind me.
I’m glad the timing worked out. Driving all the way to Peoria just to get travelers checks from my credit union would’ve been an expensive trip.