Monday, February 05, 2007

Sunday Scribblings: Goodbyes

Not surprisingly, I hate goodbyes. I live a good 10,000 kilometers from most of the people that I fiercely love, the friends that have come into my life in unexpected places like the line at the bank or a shared aisle in a plane, the family that I was blessed with and the family that I have chosen over the years.

It seems like I am constantly leaving at least one of these people, finding a way to fit all essential posessions and small indulgences in two suitcases, trying to capture all the memorable moments on film or on paper or in a final soul-squeezing hug so that I might be sustained by these slivers of the past while away.

I hate saying goodbye, but I do recognize a silver lining amidst the ache of absence: it makes the next airplane ride back home that much more exciting, the next bondinho ride up the hill to Santa Teresa that much more beautiful, and the next face-to-face smile with a loved one that much sweeter.

8 comments:

Alessandra Cave said...

I couldn't agree with you more... And Hmmm... to Sta Teresa! x

gautami tripathy said...

I like the positive note at the end of it...

gautami
Finally....

Anonymous said...

I'm tryign to imagine what it would be like to be 10,000 kilometers from NYC - I've never been more than a few hundred miles away from it.
But I've seen friends come and go - and it's hard.
Loved the last line.
Frances

Unknown said...

I am a wanderer too. For a long time, I could fit all of my possessions in my stationwagon. I wouldn't buy any other car. Well, I understand what lots of goodbyes are like but I also appreciate hellos, to old freinds and new ones too.

Ali Ambrosio said...

~Alex - I'll meet you at the bondinho in Santa, ok? :)

~Gautami Tripathy - That's how I have to think if I'm to deal with so much distance.

~Frances - Being far away has been the norm for me since I was 15. You get used to it, but it never stops hurting to be far from family and friends.

~Margaret - I *definitely* can't fit my posessions in a station wagon!! I seem to leave a trail of stuff behind me in storage units, parents' houses, friends caring hands. I'm getting better at being a minimalist, but it's hard for me!

paris parfait said...

My sentiments exactly, Ali! xo

paris parfait said...

My sentiments exactly, Ali! xo

Annie Jeffries said...

Too true. All the sweet hellos.