Symphony Place farewell

Today's photos are from the Orkut Scrapbook Wars between me and Jeff Bohnhoff last May. Happy birthday, Jeff!

Took my new iTalk with iPod to my whistle lesson last night, and it worked like a charm. Got three tunes recorded for me to practise with, and the sound is much clearer than I expected. I was also having trouble learning a long roll, so used my digital camera to take a close-up mini-movie of my teacher's fingers as she demonstrated. I love technology. :-)



The sale of our condo closes today. We're turning in our keys, garage opener. I'm excited about finding a new place, of course, but I still can't help feel sad today; we had been living there over ten years, after all.

Some things I loved about the place:

- Bustling with action: people going to theatres and concerts. Lots of great restaurants in the area.

- Easy access to the PATH, the vast network of underground malls in Toronto.

- The security guards/concierges. We got to know each other over the years, joked around and chatted. I met some of their kids.

- The Unknown Guitarist, a fellow who regularly busks on the corner of Simcoe and King every summer, wearing a paper bag over his head.

- My office. It was small, but when I closed the door it turned into a my very private and personal cave-like haven and workspace.

- My desk, which was custom-made for the space.



- Super-convenient transportation. Easy to get on the Gardiner Expressway. Steps away from St. Andrew's subway station. Short walk from the Royal York, where I'd catch the airport shuttle.

- Being across from Roy Thompson Hall, where all kinds of interesting events would take place. We saw the Queen and the Pope across the street, for example, as well as more celebrities and musicians than I can name.

- Symphony Place (the name of our building) is small compared to most downtown high-rises, with only four units a floor. You got to know people, and it felt more like a community.

- Minutes' walk away from the lake. I loved running along the Harbourfront, watching the sailboats.

- Metro Square across the street, behind Roy Thompson Hall. I liked taking a book sometimes and sitting out on the grass in the sun, perhaps listen to one of the free concerts.



- Near lots of bookstores: Nicholas Hoare, for example, as well as David Mason Books, Chapters, Pages.

- The jacuzzi tub. I rarely used the water-jets, but I *love* soaking in a deep tub.

- Short walk to the Paramount movie complex, right beside Chapters.

- The way the late afternoon sunlight slanted across the far wall in our bedroom, changing the room into something exotic and mysterious.

- Checking the ducks' nest in the shallow pool beside Roy Thompson Hall every spring, as many others working in the area must have done as well. We were like little kids, pressing our faces against the glass, anxiously watching over those small egss, rejoicing when the fuzzy ducklings made an appearance, paddling in a line behind their parents.



- A few minutes' walk away from Metro Convention Centre, where I could check out all kinds of interesting shows and exhibits.

- The view from our window. Never got tired of it.

So I feel like an overly sentimental sap, sitting here with tears on my face and all the wonderful memories associated with our condo in Symphony Place. Just need to remind myself that although the place won't be ours anymore starting tomorrow, the memories will always be there.

And y'know, I'm looking forward to making some more with our new home, wherever that may be.

:-)

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