Well done, Dunder Mifflin.

Last night, we closed an 8 year chapter in our lives and finally finished watching 'The Office', a 9 season long mockumentary about the employees of a paper company. I'm embarrassed to admit that I shed a few tears. The finale was really well done and tugged at your heartstrings, but more than that, it was the end of an era for Brandon and I. We were late starting The Office, so it was only fitting that we were more than a year late for the end. 

We saw an episode shortly after we were married at a friend's Christmas party - the Yankee Swap episode where at the last minute a Secret Santa is changed to a White Elephant. If that doesn't mean anything to you, essentially people had bought gifts for specific people and when they showed up to work, the boss found out that he wasn't going to get anything as nice as what he'd brought, so he turned it into a free for all where people open a random gift and others have the opportunity to steal. It was hilarious, but I didn't think much of it until a few months later.

I was traveling from Provo to Salt Lake several times a week in the winter semester of 2007 for an internship at Richter 7. I was very fortunate to have a friend and mentor there who told me about an express bus that would get us there in record time and save us money. (Shannon was my favourite part about working there.) While we were sitting on the bus together, fighting sleep as it was still dark outside, she really introduced me to The Office. We sat, side by side, watching on Shannon's iPod (revolutionary back then) sharing earbuds between us and giggling hysterically at the back of the bus, raising eyebrows and annoying other commuters, I'm sure. It got to be the best part of my day.

I got around to sharing more episodes with Brandon and we really got into the show. Halloween costumes, quotes and inside jokes - we loved it. And since we had been watching since the first year of our marriage, to be sitting almost 8 years later, viewing the very last episode they'd ever make, it brought back a flurry of emotions and reminded me how time marches on. It seemed like yesterday that we were dressing up as Dwight and Angela for our married student ward's Halloween party, but lifetimes away at the same time - I blame the children.

We've been putting off watching the Psych finale for the same reason and only just finished White Collar - the only 3 shows we've really gotten into as a couple. I can't handle things coming to an end! On to find another show to break my heart 9 years down the road.