Since I’ve moved home to Potsdam from California a few years ago, making friends, especially female ones has been a bit of a challenge. I’ve written several posts about this subject and how sometimes I long for the simpler days of elementary school when all one had to do to forge a friendship was simple stand in line with your class and ask the person in front of you if you wanted to be friends. Bonds were formed, friends were made and years long relationships that would stand the test of time were built out of a 4 word conversation. 

   So when I finally had a small group of women that I could meet with a share my birthday dinner 2 years in a row, I was ELATED. But as with everything in life, things change and people grow, jobs begin and end (sometimes in new places), and so do relationships. Sometimes it’s the “life stuff” that can bring us together and also move us apart. 

  Regardless it’s always hard to say goodbye. First there was Jenna. When she moved with her went the energy of a hummingbird. She was forever buzzing around and flying through life with such speed that if you blinked, you just might miss her. We had car dance parties and late night talks over bottomless glasses of wine and sometimes we would just sit on the couch and she would do work, I would read (code for sleep), but we would just “be”. And then she had to leave. It was time. It was very sad and very hard to say goodbye, but it was the right thing to do and we knew no matter what, we’d be ok. We’d always be friends. 

    Amy was another one of those women I celebrated my birthday with. She was actually my first female friend here in Potsdam when I moved home. I needed Amy and Amy needed a “Miranda” too, so we were perfect for each other. We had an easy friendship. Never any arguments or disagreements. We were both always between 9-12 minutes late to everything (& when you find your “person” who is literally on the same time clock as you…it is a BEAUTIFUL thing.) So we just fell into an easy rhythm. Life was nice and I had a great friend. She and Jenna knew each other too (our friend Janet made up our fourth) and we were a great little group of gals. But as life happens, not long after Jenna left, Amy found an opportunity in life that was calling to her too. And it was SO hard to say goodbye. But it was the right thing. It was supposed to be. So I was very happy for her.   

    And then this year, I have found Deb. Deb is a wonderful soul who has mermaid long hair and beautiful presence about her that just wraps you up when you meet her. She is truly one of my favorite people on this Earth. And we were not meant to live near each other long, but we were meant to be lifelong friends. And sometimes when you meet those people, it doesn’t matter how you meet them, or how long you physically live down the street from them, but really what imprint they leave on your soul. Deb graduated from PA school at Clarkson University on Saturday and I couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s going to be an incredible provider and even though she just moved 4 hours away to Rochester where she’ll be living and working someday, I know it’s an amazing opportunity for her and even though it’s SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE, sometimes it’s not just what is right, but it’s also what is GOOD. 
This is for all the friends I’ve had to say goodbye to at different times and places. Most notably Kym, Frances, Rox and Steve who took such amazing care of me as well as Jenna, Amy, and Deb.