05 October 2006

The Start of the Good-Byes

Tomorrow two of my closest friends will be coming to Kansas City one last time for a visit before we leave for Switzerland. We have all been friends since we were 12 years old (more than 20 years!). It will be great to see them and we are planning many girly-activities for the weekend. But it is mixed with some sadness that this is a "good-bye."

Yes, it is true that traveling between Europe and the United States is relatively easy. Multiple flight options make it very possible. GL Hubby will need to travel back and forth frequently for business trips, and I can certainly join him on some of them. In addition, e-mailing, blogging, telephone calls and the like will keep us in touch. The Internet Age has made the world seem smaller than it has ever been.

All the same, it is starting to become real that we will be moving very far away. And regardless of all the wonderful people we are likely to meet and the fabulous experiences we will have, there is still the acknowledgement that with that will come some homesickness tinged with the inevitable culture shock.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Admittedly it is the hardest thing a soul can do, to move away from life long friends. Having said that. If life is to be really enjoyed, you must move on. You will always have the chance to come back around. Yet, it will never be the same ever again. Enjoy your time with your friends and press onward with your life.
You never can tell about moving. Maybe that one special friend you have really been searching for all of your life will suddenly appear in front of you when you least expect it...ED

Unknown said...

Oh man - I'd love to be back. It's getting so real for you guys now... How cool is that...

GL'sD said...

Gretchen's mother is attempting to ignore the obvious distance. Perhaps if I do not acknowledge, it will shorten.

Anonymous said...

Buck up, little camper. Your friends are already planning a girly road (ok air) trip.

andrea said...

Saying goodbye is, at the end of the day, the hardest part of moving overseas. The logistics, the packing, the selling of your house, the cats, that all falls into place, but the goodbyes? They never get easier.

Good luck! It is hard but it is an exciting thing to be doing!