With far too few exceptions, closings have regrettably become boring, routine, uneventful, colourless, anti-climactic, and mere perfunctory gatherings. Most lamentable of all is that closings have become dry. Strangers convene at a pre-arranged time, robotically sign various documents, drink apple juice, exchange superficial social niceties, impatiently shake hands, and anxiously part ways. Where did the days when closings meant more than an agreed drop-off and pickup point disappear to? Published in the May 2010 issue of Canadian Lawyer as part of Bryan Haynes' regular column.