Oh, the goodbyes. Packing is hard: it is hard to face all of my stuff, organize it into boxes, get rid of the things I don't need, and worry about the things I won't be able to find for awhile. It is had to put every single thing in my life into a box. The good thing is I get to remember each little thing: how I got it, who gave it to me, what I've done with it, the memories attached to it. But still, I have accumulated a lot of things in 42 years.
But the goodbyes are enough to make me think I should quit moving every few years. Everyone has been so lovely, and some people have been downright surprising. At times in my life I left really fast, so fast I was gone before anyone even noticed I was packing, but now I am trying to carefully say goodbye, to listen graciously to each goodbye offered, to accept the blessings people are giving me.
Tonight at the CHUM Board meeting (I am really going to miss CHUM) the board member assigned to do devotions spoke about transitions, the fear of leaving something familiar but the growth that comes with taking the next step. It was a lovely bit of grace, his sharing this with us all, especially for me tonight.
But what really got me was a few days ago when the almost 102-year-old woman said, gripping my hand in hers, "You come back and visit us now, you hear?"
Thursday, June 07, 2007
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2 comments:
I just wanted to thank you for this post. I am relatively new to the blogosphere and I really enjoy your blog.
I have not had the first move yet, but I know it will be so difficult to say bye.
OK, enough. Organization is your middle name (except it did not apply when you married my cousin). You will sort, pack,store now. Remember later. Your energy now should be spent savouring the goodbyes. And then preparing for the challenges that hello brings.Love ya guys!
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