Goodbye Again
About three years ago, I wrote this post when my best friend left for China. It seems history is repeating itself, because last Friday, she left for China again, this time for two years. I was really tempted to just copy and paste my previous post today, because every word of it is still true, but that felt like cheating. So I’m going to attempt to write something new. As a side note, I put off writing this, because I’m really not sure how to process these events, but when Erin, who has only been in China for a few days, posted her own blog post (complete with a video tour of her apartment), I knew I had to get my act together. So here goes.
…
Oh my gosh, what do I write? I literally feel exactly the same way as I did when I wrote that post three years ago, so just read that one.
Ok just kidding.
I don’t feel exactly the same. When I wrote that post, I had been married for exactly one month, and had been living in Rhode Island (where I didn’t know anything or anyone) for less than a month. I actually wrote these words: “I have a loving husband, a wonderful family, a comfortable home, and an adventure every time I walk out my door. There is so much for me to enjoy and to be, and to do.” The first three things are still true, but living in south-central Pennsylvania, life isn’t quite an adventure every time I walk out the door.
As millennials, we often read articles about all the things we’re supposed to do before we reach age 30, all the traveling we’re supposed to do while we’re still young. I often read these things and think, “With what money? What about my job? Bills? Student loans? What young person can carelessly travel the world?” And then I see friends going to Greece, Italy, or Hawaii just for fun, and I think, “Am I missing something?” Is my life really supposed to be one big adventure? People my age often joke about having a quarter-life crisis (although I’m not sure they’re entirely joking), and I’m starting to think there might be something to it.
It’s not easy to be content where we are in life. Part of me wants to just pick everything up and join Erin in China, but that’s not really an option right now (thanks, student loans). So instead, I will spend the next two years reading Erin’s blog, eating up all her pictures, and emailing and Skyping regularly, and generally experiencing China vicariously through her.
Yet somehow I can’t get away from the words of Frodo when he said goodbye to his best friend: “You cannot always be torn in two. You will have to be one and whole, for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do.”
Ugh.
I really do. I sense a gratitude list coming up.
But for now, I’ll drown my sorrows in tea, Chinese pop, and sewing.
…
Oh my gosh, what do I write? I literally feel exactly the same way as I did when I wrote that post three years ago, so just read that one.
Ok just kidding.
I don’t feel exactly the same. When I wrote that post, I had been married for exactly one month, and had been living in Rhode Island (where I didn’t know anything or anyone) for less than a month. I actually wrote these words: “I have a loving husband, a wonderful family, a comfortable home, and an adventure every time I walk out my door. There is so much for me to enjoy and to be, and to do.” The first three things are still true, but living in south-central Pennsylvania, life isn’t quite an adventure every time I walk out the door.
As millennials, we often read articles about all the things we’re supposed to do before we reach age 30, all the traveling we’re supposed to do while we’re still young. I often read these things and think, “With what money? What about my job? Bills? Student loans? What young person can carelessly travel the world?” And then I see friends going to Greece, Italy, or Hawaii just for fun, and I think, “Am I missing something?” Is my life really supposed to be one big adventure? People my age often joke about having a quarter-life crisis (although I’m not sure they’re entirely joking), and I’m starting to think there might be something to it.
It’s not easy to be content where we are in life. Part of me wants to just pick everything up and join Erin in China, but that’s not really an option right now (thanks, student loans). So instead, I will spend the next two years reading Erin’s blog, eating up all her pictures, and emailing and Skyping regularly, and generally experiencing China vicariously through her.
Yet somehow I can’t get away from the words of Frodo when he said goodbye to his best friend: “You cannot always be torn in two. You will have to be one and whole, for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do.”
Ugh.
I really do. I sense a gratitude list coming up.
But for now, I’ll drown my sorrows in tea, Chinese pop, and sewing.
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