Gov. Olene Walker may have been Utah's first female governor, but on Wednesday she proved herself an everyman kind of packer.

Even with pressing deadlines, such as her scheduled trip to the Fiesta Bowl this weekend and the arrival of Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman next week, Walker's progress on packing her office was slow and not very steady. Like many people, distractions were everywhere and, for the most part, seemingly welcomed.

There were letters that may still need answering, posters from children thanking her for visiting with them, pictures that prompted an anecdotal story or fond recollection. And that was just the top drawer, the one that she uses "to put things in when people visit so my desk looks clean."

Of course Walker faced obstacles to packing that most people never experience, including almost two hours with the media, a final lunch with her staff and determining which of the pictures, letters and official documents need to be archived for historical purposes. Additionally, she still has work to do, most notably the appointment of a new judge for the 3rd District Court.

"I still have a few issues to work out, a few letters to write and a few phone calls," she said. "Today is dedicated to making decisions and sorting things, but I suspect that in the end, I'll end up boxing a lot of this up and going through it at home."

It may also be easier to finish the task when not in the governor's office, especially since Walker admitted "it's really emotional" to be leaving.

"I'm trying really hard to control myself," she said. "A lot of this is very kind and complimentary."

While she is leaving as governor after losing her re-election bid at the state Republican convention earlier this year, Walker does not expect to be riding silently into the sunset. Instead, she said she is considering various job offers that will keep her involved — although not as a lobbyist, a job she plans to avoid.

"I've put the big decision off so I can give it better consideration," she said. "But it's just nice to have options at my age."

Despite leaving the office somewhat unwillingly, Walker is grateful to be doing so with a high approval rating.

"It's easier to go out when people are wanting you to stay," she said. "But it will be hard to leave this office and everything that goes along with it."

Then again, as anyone who has moved can attest, it's never easy to pack up and go, even if it's only a few blocks.

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com