Missing

Today, vital people are missing.  Or rather, are being missed.  Some are far away; some are here, but are (or may be) departing; and some are here, but not here.  So many people, close in thought and in heart, despite actual, possible, or metaphorical distance.  It is hard.

Herself's siblings are so dispersed.  Herself hasn't seen her younger sibling for over three years, not since the birth of that sibling's youngest child.  Herself's Beloved has never seen that youngest child.  How sad Herself is, that this sibling who is so important to her is so far away.  Also, Herself's older sibling is working on obtaining a job overseas - and that would mean that Herself would see that sibling with even less frequency than she does now. She is again sorrowful. Alas.

One of Herself's friends from the gym is moving away.  This friend is a lovely, witty, and incredibly flexible woman who has been Herself's inspiration for many a class.  Herself aspires to be as talented, patient, and quietly humorous as this friend.  Godspeed, my friend, and I hope that New England brings you many new and wonderful things.

Herself still waits patiently for further news regarding another friend whose job may require relocation.  She is actually physically nauseated at the thought of this friend leaving.  We cannot bear to contemplate it, until we know whether it is truly inevitably happening.

We try not to think about Offspring the First's forthcoming departure for college, for that will forever change the dynamics of the Family, and we are not yet ready to think about such a change.

And finally, there is Herself's Beloved.  So near, and yet so far - so dedicated to his job, so diligent and persevering, so patiently bearing the immensely heavy workload he carries every day.  The long hours, the faraway look that indicates he is thinking about work, the circles of fatigue under his eyes.  Herself has so little time with him, and it breaks her heart every day, for she cannot help him, and she cannot spend time with him when he does not have a spare moment to spend.

She is grateful for each brief moment she has with these people. 

Today, it is all too much to bear. She cries.

Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.

 —   Charles M. Schultz