A week of goodbyes

It has been a long week of saying goodbye and of avoiding saying goodbye. The avoidances came early in the week, while I did actually bid farewell to people toward the end of my stay in Pittsburgh. It was kind of odd, really. On Tuesday I said goodbye to my field placement supervisor in Special Collections. He shook my hand, wished me the best of luck, and I left, saying a casual goodbye to my co-workers without any indication that it was a final farewell. Then on Wednesday I went off to work with the expectation that my housemates would be gone when I returned, but as they remained in their room until I left that morning, I made no effort to say goodbye. Nor am I disturbed by this arrangement.

When I got to work on Friday, there were muffins and orange juice waiting for me as a thank you/goodbye, and we all sat around eating and chatting for a while, but although I was the "guest of honor," I was by no means the center of attention. My goodbyes at the end of the day consisted mostly of well-wishes and a few hugs, but it didn't seem, and still doesn't seem, all that final, for we are professionals now; we will likely run into each other at conferences and such. Sunday was the big day for hugs and goodbyes, which is logical, since it's the day I actually moved and this was my church family. I had more hugs that one day than ever before at this church, and people who had never before spoken to me made a point to tell me how much they had enjoyed having me with them this past year. As odd as it sounds even to me, I do think they were sincere in their sentiments.

Ah, it's always difficult to leave, but at the same time, I'm happy to be home again and look forward to cheerful reunions with old friends.