A truth...

It's a lot easier to be the one leaving than the one left. A co-worker of mine is moving to South Africa because her husband's company transferred him there. Today was her last day. I realized today on my way home from telling her good-bye that I hate this time of year. I have a job where years are clearly marked and each one comes to a distinct end. Perhaps that's not the best idea for someone like me who has serious qualms with goodbyes. I tend to have difficulty with emotions, but missing someone is one that I've never struggled with. Perhaps it's the only emotion that I truly know and can express. It's like I cannot express emotion for people until they are gone, and then I feel the hole left and realize what they meant to me. Last year, I was the one leaving my job and I was the recipient of the "good-bye" toast. That was different because mixed with good-bye were all these emotions of excitement for a new start. When you're the one left behind, you don't get anything but the emotion of loss.