I hate to say it

You and I will meet again, When we're least expecting it, One day in some far off place, I will recognize your face, I won't say goodbye my friend, For you and I will meet again.

Tom Petty

Several months ago I blogged about moving. About hauling my crap from one place to the next, whether in the same area or in another city. I will say that moving and traveling has its benefits, there is one thing that becomes pretty hard to do. It's not finding or learning a new job, finding a new house or apartment, or even locating that elusive truck you can borrow. It's saying goodbye.

I got friends all over the Mid South. I feel fortunate. There are many, though, that I may never speak to again. You lose track of time and telephone numbers. Most were friendly acquaintances at best, but if you're fortunate like me, every so often you find someone that means a whole lot more.

Perhaps you see them every day at the coffee shop. Maybe you both run or walk at the park. Could be you work with them. However you met, you created a friendship that surpasses 'acquaintance.' You discover you like the same movies or the same hobbies. You find the same things funny. You like the same music. You enjoy a conversation over trivial matters, but out of the blue, it becomes meaningful and enlightening.

Soon you begin dropping their name into conversations with other friends. You relate things they said and did that day. Their opinions become important to you. And you wonder what they think about an item before you buy it. And it hits you. You care about them. You realize how much they actually mean to you. And the last thing you want to do is to say goodbye.

In this age of connectivity, it's easy to keep in touch with people. Email, Facebook, Twitter, text messages, you name it. They are all forms of staying in the know with those you know. Heck, I'm now talking to cousin I haven't seen since the 80s. We're now virtual farming neighbors on Facebook.

However, no matter what technology exists or how far advanced it is, it pales to conversing face to face. Speaking to someone face-to-face is more personal and the bonds are more intense. When they walk through the door, your spirits are lifted and your stress eases. You look forward to seeing them and spending time with them.

But sometimes, when you least expect it, you are forced to let go. So now I have to say goodbye.

Goodbye to your morning smile (or, depending on your coffee intake, frown). Goodbye to your new haircuts and learning what it will take to make it better. Goodbye to the hilarity of your random comments and discussing them with all the seriousness I can muster. Goodbye to the daily updates about life at home or away (both good times and bad). Goodbye to new books being read and why they make you excited. Goodbye to the adventures and thrills of newly discovered dangers... like skydiving (still makes me nervous).

Goodbye to shared sighs of work-related tribulations. Goodbye to the joys of chocolate, Sonic ice cream and burgers, instant cheesy broccoli in a bowl, mother-baked brownies, pizza in the library, and the morning chess squares. Goodbye to the nerd-a-licious wonders of typography. Goodbye to enjoying a new song together (I'll never hear another without wanting your opinion) and no more 'turning it up a notch.'

Saying it fills me with heartache. Just thinking the words opens a huge whole in my heart. I wish circumstances were different.

Goodbye Princess.