Jul 27 2011

Goodbye and Good Luck

Published by at 11:34 am under Family,Friends,Jessica

On Saturday, we had a farewell barbecue for Erica and Jessica. I’ll have you know that saying goodbye to us was important enough to delay their departure. Despite living in the middle of nowhere – or on the edge of it – it was the only day that week that all three of us could get together. We are surprisingly busy despite living in obscurity*.

Or so we thought. Though we had the proceedings at our brother’s place, he ended up getting stuck at work and still hadn’t appeared by the time E & J drove off into the darkness. He only missed them by a few minutes and was really sorry, but it couldn’t be helped. Being a grown-up: not all it’s cracked up to be.**

Lu and L were there, though, and Lu brought her dogs, Marco and Harlow, who played with their friend Star. I was afraid it would be hard for L to see all the dogs bouncing around happily when dear Padawan is gone, but he was his usual sweet-spirited self. He is even talking about getting another dog, which is good.

I was sad to say goodbye. Even though they are now gracing Portland with their fabulousness, it doesn’t quite seem real to me. I held Jessica on my lap a lot that evening, talking as always, but also resting my cheek on her bright hair or holding her hand and thinking of how I wouldn’t see her grow up and how she won’t be part of my everyday life any more. It was hard not to cry as I hugged them goodbye.

But they’ve promised to come back for Christmas, and we’ve talked about Jessica coming for a couple of weeks next summer. Megan is already saying that it’s really only a ten hour drive, not twelve, and we could make it in one day…

*Another of life’s mysteries is how we all work all the time, but never have any money.

**Jessica observed that I’m “not a real grown-up. You’re more like…an old kid.”

5 responses so far

5 Responses to “Goodbye and Good Luck”

  1. Joyon 27 Jul 2011 at 3:38 pm

    So hard to say goodbye…or au revoir……to good friends. I look forward to Christmas, already, to know how they have both enjoyed their move.

    jx

  2. Guy Charbonneauon 28 Jul 2011 at 3:23 am

    Always difficult indeed to say goodbye, but knowing that they are coming back for visits and with communications of today, e-mail, blogs, phones, you are never that far away.

  3. Amberon 30 Jul 2011 at 8:01 am

    🙁 *hugs*

  4. Ericaon 30 Jul 2011 at 8:52 am

    You never really leave a good friend, though. You may miss a few years here and there, but you have them for a lifetime. Besides, instead of us rotting in the boonies, I’m not so secretly hoping to drag you back to civilization. Love you, and thank you!
    ~Erica

  5. suzyon 31 Jul 2011 at 12:07 pm

    Aww…I miss you two! Love you lots. So glad you’re happy in your new home!