Moving to 1400 South Braddock

For almost a year now, UCP/CLASS has been in the process of renovating a new building about 5 miles away from the Community Service Centre, that I currently am based at every day. Now that the packing boxes are in the offices to start filling, it has brought on a mix of emotions that are part exciting and part scary.
 
It reminds me of when I was in those last couple weeks in the eighth grade. I was at Knoxville Middle School and the next year I would be starting as a freshman at Carrick High School. In special events that celebrated the accomplishments of the years of middle school, I was excited and ready to charge forth to Carrick. I was ready to storm the steps and make my mark on Carrick. But other times, I found that I didn’t want to leave soccer practice when the bus arrived. I didn’t want to turn in the books that weren’t a challenge. I dwelled with my friends as we would hang out in the classrooms watching movies like Hoosiers. Really, I was scared of Carrick because I didn’t know who I would be there.
 
My softball coach and German teacher, Mr. Kocur, wrote in a notebook of mine some words along the lines of “Get out of here. Go to high school. The best is yet to happen. It’s not here in Knoxville anymore.” When I first read it, I felt like he was sending me away and that he didn’t want me there anymore. I think I may have even cried. I didn’t want to leave and he was indicating that I was being silly. But looking back, especially in the middle of packing for the new building, I realize that his advice applied to so much more than just going to Carrick. It still applies to me now.
 
I found a quote by Amelia Barr, “All changes are more or less tinged with melancholy, for what we are leaving behind is part of ourselves.” That quote eloquently states some of the bittersweet emotions I have to be leaving the Community Service Centre.
 
I have been with UCP for over ten years and most of those years were spent right where I am now. I went with others to temporary space while this building was under construction back in 2001-2002, but that felt so much different than this does.  I saw my colleagues from accounting move into their offices on Craig Street too many years ago. I saw the building filling up with more staff and knew that there wasn’t enough space for the participants.
 
Our new building is a great opportunity. For me personally, I’ll soon be reunited with my colleagues from the accounting department when they join us at 1400 South Braddock Avenue. I’ll be given the opportunity to develop new relationships with staff that I admit that I only truly know in passing because we’ve never been geographically close to each other. I know that it is going to give the participants who come to the Community Service Centre new space for skill building classes and vocational services. I know that it is going to give the Multiple Sclerosis Service Society a new home.
 
Yet, I’m going to miss the building that I’ve called home for so many years. I’m going to miss the participants who stop by the office to say hello or even wish me a happy birthday on my birthday. I’m going to miss being able to walk over to CVS, Qdoba, and Penn Station. I’m going to miss the early spring days or late fall days up on the deck overlooking Centre Avenue. I’m going to miss the comfort of my regular schedule and knowing over 12 ways to get to and from work. I’m going to miss how beautiful the Community Service Centre looks like during the holidays with icicle lights hanging over the main room, underneath the large skylights.
 
Some of us are down to just days before we move. There are lots of things yet to be done – everywhere. The finishing touches at 1400 South Braddock are still in the future and the chorography of moving staff in is still being finalized. I stumble with my own packing, putting it off until I remember those words that Mr. Kocur wrote – “The best is yet to happen.”