News broke today that "The Office" will end in May 2013 after wrapping up its ninth season. I’m one of those annoying people who will claim to have loved something right from the very beginning, before any of you Johnny Come Latelies knew how awesome it was, and in this case I would be telling the truth. 

I remember the exact moment I decided that "The Office" was the greatest show ever: April 19, 2005, when the episode "The Alliance" first aired and Michael unwittingly donates a large sum of money to Oscar’s nephew’s cerebral palsy walk-a-thon. The moment he realizes his mistake and utters a bleeped-out expletive never fails to make me laugh. I don’t know why that struck me, but it did, and I’ve probably only missed two or three episodes since. And yes, I know that’s pathetic.

Some other pathetic things about me: I legit cried when Pam and Jim got married (real tears) and when Michael left at the end of the seventh season. 

I love the original version of the show, as well, and I admire its typical British restraint in only producing 12 episodes and a Christmas special. But in keeping with my American tendency to over-consume, I prefer the version produced this side of the pond. Sure, there are 170-odd episodes, and some are better than others; some I don’t really like at all. But just like with life, you’ve got to take the good with the bad. 

I’d like to say I have high hopes for the Rainn Wilson-led spin-off, but let’s face it: it’s a spin-off, and except for "Frasier," isn’t it a hallmark of spin-offs that they’re all kind of terrible? "Office" writer Paul Lieberstein (who also plays the much-maligned Toby on the show) will be in charge of the Schrute-centered series, so that gives me hope. And I adore "The Office" creator Greg Daniels’ sister show "Parks and Recreation" – so who knows? 

After all, Dwight does have the strength of a grown man and a little baby. (If you get that reference, let’s be friends.) 

Daniels has said that the final season of "The Office" is going to be big one, so here are the things I hope to see happen before the curtain falls: 

• I want all to be well in Jim and Pam-land, because I care more about made-up TV marriages than I do about the unions of people I actually know.
• I want to see the return of characters like Roy, Karen and – please, please God – Jan. 
• I want the Senator to come out of the closet and Dwight to claim paternity of Angela’s baby. It would be even more awesome if the Senator started dating Oscar. 
• Another episode with Josh Groban as Andy's younger brother. Please? 
• Phyllis finds her biological baby. 
• Something with Creed. I don’t care what. Anything.