Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Five Over Three

That is, five goodbyes in over three days. Two of them are to people I am not sure I will ever see again. For the rest, if things go as planned, I will see them again in a year’s time. But then again, who’s to know in this unpredictable planet we live in?

It can be a trying practice, this goodbye business. No amount of farewells, hugs, despedida meals or goodbye gifts can take that pang away.

But, as I always try to tell myself, life goes on—everyone moves on. It would be unnatural to hang on to someone and refuse to move from a certain spot in your life unless that person moves with you. Now, that kind of messy goodbye, I can do without, thank you!

We all have our journeys to walk, and along the way we bump into people, we get helped—or lend a helping hand. And when that patch in life has passed, we go our different ways. Sometimes we meet again somewhere in the future, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we keep in touch, or try to, other times we can’t--or don’t want to anymore.

Some people will be sorely missed as we go ahead with our journeys, others will become pleasant memories, still others will be forgotten. In some ways, forgetfulness can be a real gift—when the pain of separation, through the help of forgetfulness, will fade into hazy but good remembrances.

We then can go on with life, embracing new friends, not keeping them at arm’s length—knowing that friendship is worth risking the pain that goodbyes, which eventually comes, bring about.

Just as I thought, life is a bed of roses—you have to lay down on both the petals and the thorns.

19 comments:

Jen said...

I hope there will be more petals... see you again gypsy, either here or there... take care and enjoy your "bloody" (with British accent) adventure!

Glad to finally meet you!

Kayni said...

It seems that you're going somewhere, but wherever that maybe - have fun and blog about it.

Anonymous said...

ah, bittersweet goodbyes... i'm going through one big goodbye myself these days. reading ur post is a comfort and an assurance that, hey, the pang is okay ;)

Anonymous said...

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Hey kailan ba tayo mag EB?

Abaniko said...

So long, Gypsy. I hope to see you again---in UK! Haha.

Just dreamin'.

Anonymous said...

In my job, I also have a lot of goodbyes. I prefer to leave though than to stay behind.

Anonymous said...

I don't really like to say goodbye. Coz if I do say goodbye, i don't want to go back so soon! I want to be missed.

Marilyn said...

Yes friend. Goodbyes are never easy. But one thing I am trying to remember. The more goodbyes I say mean the more friends I have made. Now THAT is a comfort!

Jap said...

Goodbyes are tough, but it's also the ultimate test of friendship.

I hope your friendships with these people will last a lifetime.

vernaloo said...

waaaaa...hala naiiyak ako!! vakeeettt? ano ba yan? *sniff*

i know it's hard to say goodbye but its a lot harder for people who will be left behind.

see you mare =)

ipanema said...

hey, continue blogging alright? it's just across the atlantic. keep your blog alive. update us with your Brit experience.

zherwin said...

life is a bed of roses indeed, with petals and thorns, life needs the thorns to add some spice to itself.

(and proceeds to sing) and remember goodbyeee, doesn't mean forever...

Wil said...

I can't really add anything to what you've already written so I'll just say: nicely written post. :)

Anonymous said...

Good luck in your journey Gypsy! all the best. Looking forward to hearing about your life in and with the Brits

Anonymous said...

wow, that's way over 1 is to 1 ratio, 5/3. i thought it was some kind of an equation :)

but i agree, goodbyes would also mean new sets of hellos :)

wanderlass said...

ooh i can so relate. was about to blog about this. i had enough goodbyes this year. 4 of my friends either has left or is leaving!

snif!

Forever59er said...

I know what you mean ... but well, friends are just a click away.

Shall we say hi-goodbye in each other's face, somewhere in our (common) neck of the woods (i never know where to put the 'our' in that phrase which i will forever associate with you) some time very soon.

Gypsy said...

Jen, hehe..oo nga no, bloody adventure! Hope to see you there!

Kayni, I sure will! Therapy ko to , eh! :)

Aleks, talaga? Hmm..hope it was a good goodbye and yes, the pang is okey, part of life as they say...

Snglguy, was great to meet up with you! Ano ba yan, hello and goodbye again in one meeting! Sige lang, see you on line! :)

Abaniko, aba, eh...mas gala ka pa yata sa akin, so who knows???

Toe, that is my preference, too. Pero these goodbyes I made, ako ang naiwan so..i know what you mean..

Lazarus, I want to be missed, but selfishly, I dont want to miss people..hehe, but, often, life is not as we want it to be.

Intsik, oo nga, better to just face it--better yet, embrace it and then look forward to significant hellos God has in store for the future!

Marilyn, I count on you to always see the bright side of things! Thanks, friend. :)

Jap, sana nga but you know, sometimes people change and as we do so, friendship dynamics change as well..but I guess its nice to have pleasant memories to hold on to, at least.

Verns, pare-pareho tayo ni Toe, mas mahirap talaga maiwan. O, tama na iyak, hehe. Great to meet up with you!

Ipanema, am already wondering what on earth I will blogging about! Hmm...exciting prospect!

Zherwin, hahaha! Ka-generation pala tayo...give away ang kanta mo! ;)

Wil, thanks for your kind words. :)

Leah, thanks a lot, will need all the luck..bracing myself for the unexpected...

Dimaks, hindi pwedeng math--mahina ako dyan eh..hehehe.

Freeze, I guess its a great thing to have the internet, you can still stay in touch somehow...

Anna, ganun ba? Hehe. Yeah, will check my sched and hope we can meet up before I leave, I am sure you are busy, too--TV celeb ka na!! Naks!

exskindiver said...

gypsy i was late to say good bye.
by the time you get this, nan jan ka na sa UK.
hope all is well.
goodbyes are always painful.
i get you.