People Come and Go So Quickly Around Here
You know what I’m tired of? People leaving.
I said goodbye to another friend tonight. He’s moving back home to Texas. We’ve been friends for ten years, and now he’s leaving.
I know, New York is a transient place: people come for a while, then they leave. That’s the nature of a place where people come to make it. They’re here for a purpose, and then they’re gone. I guess you have to kind of accept that, but every year, we say goodbye to more and more friends, and you know what? It’s hard.
I mean, you come here and you get to know people. You spend time together. You watch them get married, and have babies. You’re a part of it all. You build your life with these people. And then they leave.
I’m whining, I know, but it’s painful to have it happen again and again. And I’m not saying people shouldn’t do what they have to do, or chase their dreams, or follow where God takes them, but I am saying that it’s weird to know someone for so long and then have them pick up roots and move somewhere else. On the plus side, I now have friends all over the country. But also, and mainly, I’m tired of saying goodbye.
How do you all deal with this? Or, (May) what’s it like when you’re the one who leaves? Is this just a part of life?
I was trying to find a video of the scene from The Muppets Take Manhattan when they all split up and go their own ways after they move to New York together? Does anyone remember this? What does it say about me that I was thinking about something serious and the best way I could illustrate it was The Muppets? Anyway, I couldn’t find the video, but here’s the trailer. What a good film.
7 comments:
I was the one to leave (NYC) a few months ago. The first couple weeks of not knowing anyone but my boyfriend were depressing. But then I met May and a whole handful of lovely blogging ladies, and my life has been a barrel full of fun ever since =)
I don't know how you feel, though, as I've never been on that side of things (consequently, I've moved 14 times in 7 years), but my college roomie still lives in NYC (originally from Texas) and has seen four of her six close pals flee the city lately. I feel for her. And you, too.
I think it says that you are serious about your Muppets!
My best friend is moving to Spain, SPAIN, next week. I'm with ya.
I totally feel like this all the time in NZ. We are like the modern day Irish (there are about a million of us living overseas and only about 4 million here) just as I get to know great people they up and move. Especially as I'm not married and don't have kids I really feel it... all my friends my age here are getting married. Though I've done my fair share of moving too. I think you just have to get good with facebook and IM and even if you don't see people all the time it doesn't mean they are not an important part of your life.
Solution: move somewhere like Holland, MI where no one ever leaves. :)
Real solution: cry about it and get Skype with a webcam. My sister moved to South Africa over six years ago and we only see each other about once a year (and that has been under extremely lucky circumstances). And it sucks major. But you just keep in touch the best that you can. And cry about it. :)
Friends leaving is one of the worst feelings in the world. Even though you know it isn't true, something inside takes it personally.
I've been on both ends but most recently as the sender.
I think webcams are a great idea in theory, but for some reason I feel like such a dork when I actually use it. They work pretty well with family - they know you as your dorkiest self anyway!
Ohhh, I cried during that scene when I watched The Muppets Take Manhattan - it didn't help that it was two months before college graduation.
I've been both the leaving and the left. And it's hard. I don't know what to say about it, really - but I am grateful for email, Skype and Facebook to keep up with those I love and left behind in England.
Sadly, I do feel like an expert on this topic. I have moved so much that I'm almost immune to it now.
And I can tell you this, it's better to be the one doing the moving. You're so busy and excited that you don't have a lot of time to sit around and be sad.
But being the one who stays behind is hard. Your life normally stays the same and you keenly notice the spot where the friend used to be.
I'm at an interesting place now in San Francisco because I've been here two years. I've got new, awesome friends like Camels & Chocolate and I have old awesome friends like Anne. I want to hold onto both but some days that's hard.
Good thing I'm going to NYC soon! Gotham are you ready???
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