There She Goes
About ten years ago, I arranged to meet a close friend for coffee at my favorite spot in Olde City, Philadelphia. It wasn't as innocent as it seemed, however, for that night, I told her of my grand plan. I would be quitting my job and moving to Seattle in a few months. As I sat there beaming, she sat there stunned, mouth agape.
Fast forward to mid-February of this year: Teri announced, via email, that she was planning to move to Washington state. I couldn't believe my eyes. In my adult life, I've been left by boyfriends; I've had distant relatives die, but I've never had a friend leave.
Ask my anyone who knows me...I am the one who leaves. Aside from my childhood, living with Joe is the longest I've lived at one address. Even at university, I changed dorm rooms, changed residence halls, and even spent a semester abroad. Once upon a time, no one dared enter my address information in pen. One smart friend used address labels and then complained bitterly that the labels were so thick that closing the book was difficult. One friend praised the invention of the PDA as a method of beating me at the address change game.
Teri was the first person I met at Yarn Central. Teri was my partner in crime in Atlantic City at Stitches East. Even with a screwed up shoulder in a sling, she was a hoot and a great travel companion. Travelling with friends can be a little scary, but I came back from that weekend realizing that I'd achieved something in the hinterlands of Dutchess County that made me smile: I'd made friends. I'd made real friends. Friends who would pick me up from the train station after a business trip. Friends who would trust me to cat-sit or baby-sit in spite of my seeming lack of maternal instinct. Friends who would cry and laugh with me during the rough patches at home and at work. Teri is one of those friends.
I'm finding it very hard to say "I'll see you later" because I know that it's going to be waaaay later. I'm trying to be supportive and positive, but I'm going to miss her like hell. The group dynamic won't be the same without her. My life won't be the same without her.
Last night, the knitting group gathered not to knit, not to say goodbye...but to wish Teri well on her journey to a new place and a new chapter in her life.
Buona Fortuna, cara mia. Ti manchi.
Fast forward to mid-February of this year: Teri announced, via email, that she was planning to move to Washington state. I couldn't believe my eyes. In my adult life, I've been left by boyfriends; I've had distant relatives die, but I've never had a friend leave. Ask my anyone who knows me...I am the one who leaves. Aside from my childhood, living with Joe is the longest I've lived at one address. Even at university, I changed dorm rooms, changed residence halls, and even spent a semester abroad. Once upon a time, no one dared enter my address information in pen. One smart friend used address labels and then complained bitterly that the labels were so thick that closing the book was difficult. One friend praised the invention of the PDA as a method of beating me at the address change game.
Teri was the first person I met at Yarn Central. Teri was my partner in crime in Atlantic City at Stitches East. Even with a screwed up shoulder in a sling, she was a hoot and a great travel companion. Travelling with friends can be a little scary, but I came back from that weekend realizing that I'd achieved something in the hinterlands of Dutchess County that made me smile: I'd made friends. I'd made real friends. Friends who would pick me up from the train station after a business trip. Friends who would trust me to cat-sit or baby-sit in spite of my seeming lack of maternal instinct. Friends who would cry and laugh with me during the rough patches at home and at work. Teri is one of those friends.
I'm finding it very hard to say "I'll see you later" because I know that it's going to be waaaay later. I'm trying to be supportive and positive, but I'm going to miss her like hell. The group dynamic won't be the same without her. My life won't be the same without her.
Last night, the knitting group gathered not to knit, not to say goodbye...but to wish Teri well on her journey to a new place and a new chapter in her life.
Buona Fortuna, cara mia. Ti manchi.
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