Last night, the ladies of the La Salle house enjoyed one last evening of celebration in a most appropriate way: a wedding. After 4 years together under the same roof, seeing one another through deaths, breakups, personal crises and victories, we emerged each of us different people than we were in 2007 - for better or for worse. After celebrating, 4 of us returned to the hotel, one less for our married roommate. Instead of going right to bed - as we were certainly tired enough to do - we spent some time on the beautiful hotel patio, all aware that is was our last time together.
Having returned home today, this week I lose another another roommate moving to Seattle for grad school, and another couple of dear friends relocating to Boston. This totals at 4 goodbyes in one week.
I think I'm getting better at this. I've known this mass exodus was coming for months now. But I have said goodbye many times before, in some cases slowly and gradually and other times abruptly with no warning. I have crossed a threshold somewhere along the way, where I understand life will always include some element of loss. We can't hold onto everything just as it was, perfect in memory. Instead every moment has its moment, every time its season. New ones will continue to replace the ones that end, but there is a time for every purpose under heaven. Coming out of last year, I feel this lesson is fresh. And just as I know I'll be eager to reunite with these friends I'm used to seeing everyday or week, I look forward to a time when all that has ended will begin new again.
What new season awaits me? I have no idea, but I don't want to miss it. But unlike other forks in the road I've encountered, I long for a fresh start of my own even as I dread the goodbyes to my friends. I'm starting to believe that the best is yet to come.
