[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

I did feel sad towards the end when everyone was practically going their own ways. Then I felt dissapointed that this was happening, then I kind of felt angry. But when I finished the book I felt empty. Yes it was kind of like losing friends, losing that fantasy feeling, and coming back to reality. Some people might describe this as like coming down from a high, and maybe becoming depressed (if only for a short while), but it kind of wasn't like that for me. It was a weird feeling. It was relly foriegn to me and I didn't like it, I couldn't shake it off me either. I finished it and it was like 'ok, now what do I do' And it wasn't like being bored, it was kind of like something wasn't right, something was missing, and likie something else I can't describe. I finished it in the late afternoon on my bed and the sun was getting low. The window in my room faces the ocean and I remember sitting there by myself for a while. Then the sun started setting. It's kind of wierd because the setting of the sun is sort of symbolic with endings. And I don't like sunsets, yet I sat there watching it for a long time. I looked at the clock by my bed and went downstairs to watch the Simpsons.

That's what it was like for me my first time finishing the book. I get those feelings every time, but it isn't nearly as big as the first time I finished it. And I never feel that way efter the Hobbit because once I finish that, then it's off to the Fellowship and LotR.