Today I ran into a friend whom I had not seen in more than a year, since she and her family moved out of state. While she was in town on business and didn't have time to get together, I was thrilled to see her and chat with her for a few minutes. I really miss her.When Jeanne lived here we would get together whenever we had time, which was infrequently due to our busy schedules and other commitments. But whenever I got to chat with her I always left feeling refreshed and uplifted. She is one of the funniest, most insightful and most open people I know. She also had a wild streak, which was fun! I was very bummed when she moved.
So many of my close friends have moved away throughout the years. A lot of times it was for good reasons, such as job opportunities or adventure or to be closer to family, but, in my more self-centered moments, all I can feel is that they have moved away from me.
I don't know why I'm so surprised whenever it happens. We live in a very transitory society: I myself moved to the Northwest from Hawaii 19 years ago and never regretted it. While I'm good at making new friends and enjoy the ones I have, and I'm genuinely happy for people when they embark on new adventures, it still doesn't take away the sting of feeling left behind.
Go ahead and call me Debbie Downer.
Photo Michael Jastremski/Openphoto.net
2 comments:
Last week I got emails from two wahine I used to be friends with when we lived closer; clear out of the blue they both contacted me, and it was wonderful renewing the friendship. We are going to visit one couple in Southern Oregon on our way home from Calif in two weeks.
Then Friday we got a phone call from someone I'd lost contact with almost 34 years ago! We were both hâpai at the same time, and were good friends during that time. Out of the blue yet again!
I was delighted to hear from all of them. During this time of endings in my life (my mother's death) it's really nice to have some beginnings.
Maybe I will write about that on my blog anden!
You should blog about that, Moki! I want to read it.
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