Little Aching Heart

Yesterday we drove our dear friends and neighbors, the Hulse family, to the airport. This is not the first trip Phoebe has made to the airport to drop off friends that would likely not return to Hawaii anytime in the near future.

This place is quite transient. We meet lots of vacationers that we would possibly hit it off with...if only they weren't leaving the next morning. And we have said more goodbyes in the last couple years than ever before. With people coming to Hawaii for short-term jobs and military assignments, this is part of life here.

Just the same, my heart broke a little for my dear, sweet Phoebe. This time, it really hurt. Having known Gwyn since she was 10 months old, she has been sad over this loss since I first mentioned that she was moving. Phoebe has had more than one of her "best-good-friends" move away. Up til now, it has phased her a little... But now she is older. She is growing up and her little heart grows attached.

Phoebe cried on the way home from the airport yesterday. And she expressed, over and over, her sorrow over not being able to play with Gwyn, that she wanted them to stay, that she wanted to play with her every day, and in her own sad (and dramatic) words said, "I only have one really friend left."

Sadly, she's right. Well, maybe two. Yes, she has two. My little social butterfly. Relationships are important. And maybe my heart ached for her because I too, have known that loss. Haven't we all? This is not an easy thing, saying goodbye. It never gets easier.

No, we don't like goodbyes. We have met some wonderful people here in Hawaii. Many are no longer here. But we feel blessed to have shared a little bit of our lives with them, and to continue in our friendship from a far.

We will miss you Rob, Laura, Gwynneth, Victor, and little tiny baby in the belly!