Fond Farewell

My work life is soon going to be a lot emptier. Tomorrow will be the last day at work for two of my closest friends. When I first heard they'd turned in their papers, I wasn't too perturbed. After all, moving on is a necessity of life. I was happy for them because they were happy for themselves. But the enormity of their decision only hit home this evening. Before I left for home, I took a trip down memory lane, looking at some old photographs and reliving some of the memories that we had made together over the past three years. And that's when I realized how badly I would miss them. Not because they're moving to another city, but just because they won't be there for the 8 hours during which I've learned to take their companionship for granted.

It's a funny thing, friendship. It begins tentatively, then slowly blossoms, growing stronger as you care and nurture it. Sometimes you don't even bother too much about nurturing it; it just grows on you like a habit. Sometimes it takes over your life to such an extent that it starts suffocating you. You become cranky and crabby and holler for some much needed space. And strangely, when that space does present itself, you suddenly feel a little alone. You want to reach out for the old and the familiar. Perhaps this space is exactly what we all need, to ignite the old fires of camaraderie. Begin new memories that will spark off new, exciting conversations. New tales, new jokes, new gossip with the old yet true friends.