Goodbye

I generally hate goodbyes. I think because change scares me most of the time. Even if I'm overall excited and feeling positive about a change, it's scary to do something different. I'm very much a people-person. Personal relationships are very important to me and I try to do everything I can to maintain them even in conditions that make it difficult. For example, I make an effort to send a long e-mail to my best friend from childhood every few months, and greatly appreciate when she reciprocates. Leaving Longwood and my college best friend, Megan, was also difficult, but we try to stay in touch using the magic of the internet, and we still are able to know what's basically going on in each other's daily lives. My very best friend, Alli, moved to Chicago 3ish weeks ago. We hugged and cried and said we would miss each other, but I knew I would see her again soon when she came into town on business. I've gone 3 weeks and more without seeing Alli, so this goodbye wasn't so bad as it was exciting for her to be going on such a fantastic journey.

However, this weekend, she came home for that business trip, and I was forced to say a real goodbye, with no hope of seeing her again for at least a few months. Last night, at her dad's house, we held hands and reminisced about the ridiculous things we've encountered throughout our several years of friendship. I've had a couple of very meaningful goodbyes like this: my grandfather in his hospital bed before he died, before John left Richmond for UVA freshman year, my family before heading to France for a month. This goodbye is one of those that will always stick with me. One that's full of happiness, tears, good memories, and promises to stay in touch.

It makes me realize that it's not the end of an era, just the end of a chapter with another chapter waiting to begin.