Saying Goodbye

I am once again roommateless. Early this morning I took Amanda up the airport and hugged her goodbye. She has been here for exactly one year today and it was time for her to board a plane and head for her home in the US.

I think one the hardest things about living here is the goodbyes. They are constant. I am either flying from Canada to here and having to say goodbye to all of my friends and family on that side of the world, or I am leaving here to go there. To top it off it seems like a lot of people come out here for a few weeks to a year. They are fun and wonderful people to have around…and I find myself drawn to them. But because their time is only temporary, I know even as I am getting attached I will have to face the inevitable goodbye. I remember when I first meet one of the expat kids who has grown up out here. Their very first question to me was “how long are you here for?” I think it was a bit of a defense mechanism for them. If I know how long you will be around for, I know how deeply I can get attached.

I am the same way, I am often tempted to protect myself against short term visitors by not allowing myself to get close to new people. But the problem with that is that I am only cheating myself. I end up missing out on getting to know some great people. And so I have learned to allow myself the pain of days like today. And my heart joins with the Muppets in “Saying Goodbye”

Saying goodbye, going away
Seems like goodbye's such a hard thing to say
Touching a hand, wondering why
It's time for saying goodbye
Saying goodbye, why is it sad?
Makes us remember the good times we've had
Much more to say, foolish to try
It's time for saying goodbye
Dont want to leave, but we both know
Sometimes it's better to go
Somehow I know we'll meet again
Not sure quite where, and I dont know just when
You're in my heart, so until then
Wanna smile, wanna cry
Saying goodbye
La la la la la la la la
It's time for saying goodbye
Muppets Saying Goodbye - Amazing videos are here