I’m no stranger to living far away from the vast majority of my friends and loved ones. Growing up overseas in a different country from both sides of the family amidst a transient population of expats will do that to you. I’ve also moved a lot; I apparently have a tendency to befriend those with a wanderlust similar to my own; and sadly, I’ve lost far too many friends to death. And despite more or less living in a constant state of missing someone, I don’t find it any easier when yet another loved one moves on to new adventures as three particular loved ones did just yesterday. Up until yesterday, I had been actively, happily living in a state of denial about their upcoming move to a new city. But as they pulled away in their car after out last shared meal for a while, tears welled up, and there was no denying that life isn’t going to be quite the same anymore.
These friends and their daughter, who happens to be BFFs with my daughter, are the kind of people who you can call at 9:00 on a Sunday night and ask to borrow a cup of brandy because you’ve gotten an itch to make brandied cherries (yeah, we’re not sugar or egg borrowers; when we come knocking, we’ll probably be looking for liquor). They’re the kind of people who bring you dinner for no reason at all except that they want to hang out. They’re the kind of people who invite you over to lunch, then invite you to stay until almost 11 at night because you’re all having so much fun playing games and telling off-color jokes. They’re the kind of people who will drop whatever they’re doing to help you when you need it, even if you haven’t asked for it. They’re the kind of people that my daughter refers to as Aunt and Uncle because these are the people that are influential enough in her life to have earned the title without blood relation. They’re the kind of people that I trust with the care of my precious girl. They’re people I’ve rarely gone a week without seeing over the past two years, and now visits with them will take a lot more coordination and planning.
They’re off on a new adventure, and I can only wish them the best because I love them very much. But tonight, and probably many more nights for a while, my heart will be heavy for missing them.
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