The other day I found myself in a restaurant with a combination of people that hadn't been together since around the time we were celebrating our new driver's licenses. To a point we had kept in touch, especially two of us, but as a grouping there was certainly years to catch up on. As we discussed the theatre programs we are all graduated from this theme of changing in college came up a lot. I believe the phrase that was repeatedly used was "no one really changes, but it's important that they do a little bit"...deep, I know. You're probably like "woah.Mind?..blown." But really it all points flexibility. In a short four years you leave home for the first time and meet all new people, then year by year those people leave until eventually you leave. All the while on breaks and holidays you come home and regroup with those that you have stayed in contact with until suddenly people are getting jobs and all of us are scattered to the winds again.
After a certain point "good-bye" becomes so common. It's a meaningless phrase because you've used it so often. The only phrase with less value is the unavoidable "I miss you." True you sometimes mean it, but often times you use your recently learned super-adjustment powers and you acclimate to that person no longer being in your day-to-day life. If you actually missed them as much as you say you do you would be that emo girl who doesn't leave her bedroom and spends all of her time in every social situation texting people miles away who don't respond immediately because they're living their own lives (or they do respond because they aren't).
Don't think I'm exempt (I realize you didn't). I just said said good-bye to a best friend for the 4 millionth time since the first time I packed up and hauled off to college. But now it's a bit of an actual question mark when we will see each other again. We'll overlap on the east coast for a weekend and there is a possibility of meeting in DC but other than that, who knows?
There it is, adulthood out of no where. A world without winter breaks. A world where your parents might be sick of paying for your holiday returns. Maybe it makes more sense to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas in New York with closer friends or in DC where you now live. Given this point happens at different times for everyone but it is certainly happening to me now.
Now lets be real? In a world of facebook, cellphones, skype, and now Google+'s hang out (ps I could actually write a novel about my obsession with Google+ called 'a luddite's fascination') it's pretty much impossible and completely unnecessary for a "parting is such sweet sorrow" moment. Distance is so easily remedied by technology. Still there is something to be said for having someone with you in person, especially when you have friends that can become easily distracted. Not that I do.
I totally do.
Not that I can be that person too.
I totally can.
SO good-byes. Sad? yes. But I feel like at this point in my frequently changing life once it actually hits me that I've said good-bye, I've adjusted to the new situation. I had to embrace years ago that long distance is just the way a lot of friendships have to be and that's totally healthy and normal. If anything it gives you some place to stay when you travel.
Not that I ever have any money to travel.
Because I don't.
#youngbrokeandfabulous
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