See You Soon. (Promise?!)

I've known this for a month (actually, maybe less), but have refused to really, truly acknowledge and accept it: our dear, dear friends K., B., and O. are leaving Washington D.C. and heading back home to the West Coast.  Not for vacation.  For good.  They're originally from there and B. recently accepted a job back home (congratulations, B.!!!!).  And so three days from now, they'll hop on a plane and leave a GIANT, GIANT hole in our hearts.  We are going to miss them for so many reasons; really, I don't know where to begin.  But O.'s face at today's see-you-soon (no-this-is-not-goodbye) lunch pretty much sums up how we feel . . . 

A. and O. are such sweet friends.  They play and interact so wonderfully together and we have so many fun memories of A. and O.  While we're thrilled that the M. family will be closer to their immediate and extended families, I'm so sad that A. and O. won't grow up together (unless, of course, WE move to the West Coast. Hmmmm . . . now there's an idea!).  Here they are, wildly shaking their heads and getting a kick out of one another.

And K. has been such a dear, generous, and kind friend to me.  I met her through her husband, with whom I worked for just over a year (thank you, thank you, fate!). She and I met just a few weeks after A. was born and a mere 8 months later, little O. joined the world.  Lucky us, we're two stay-at-home moms who kept each other sane and happy with fun lunches and playdates for the kiddos.

Heavy sigh.  A.'s comment as we bid a temporary farewell didn't help my down feelings: She happily exclaimed as we walked away from our friends, "A.'s friend, Owen! Owen, friend!"  Of course, she doesn't understand O.'s moving; but he is and will always be her friend. (Sniffle.) It just doesn't seem real.  It kinda feels like they're going on vacation and that we'll see them again soon.  We will. I have a thought, in fact.  Decidedly, A. and O. will be penpals for the next two decades and, then, with our blessings, they will marry.  And I've promised K. that we will move to them.  No harm in planning so far in advance, right? Or, we could just plan a vacation for the near future, say this summer? Yes, that's probably more practical, but the alternative is still fun to contemplate, don't you think???  

We'll see you soon, M. family! Thank you for being so wonderful and we're so happy to know you.  Safe travels and smooth moving.  We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin this chapter in your lives.