Saying Goodbye

 You can dance 'til you're dizzy...

Paint 'til you're blue...

There's no place, not one,

That my love can't find you.

-nancy tillman

Yesterday my heart felt broken.

We had to say goodbye to twelve people that I have spent the last year of my life loving. 

Twelve people from twelve different places - all the corners of the world.

Twelve people that we lived with, worked with, laughed with, and cried with.

Twelve people who transformed into my teachers, siblings, and friends.

Twelve young people that have a whole lifetime ahead of them, and not a single one of them without a handful of tangible possibilities to explore.

Twelve people that I loved with my whole heart.

Oh....did I already mention that?  Well, it's worth mentioning twice.

Twelve people that loved YOU.

I want you to remember them.  To engrave their memories into your minds, because these people helped RAISE you.  I know in 10 or even 5 years it will be hard to remember that, and it breaks my heart.  Because over the course of the past year they have really been the most important people in your lives.  They picked you up when you fell.  They kissed your ouchies, laughed at your ways, and doled out hugs as if they never could run out.

You LOVED THEM.

And so did your father and I.

They were funny, adventurous, and altogether lovely - the most wonderful group of young adults I've ever been around.

My cup runneth over.

Until we meet again.