I recently came across a post titled ‘When Close Friends Live Far Away (A Request)’ when a colleague shared it on Facebook.
The entry starts with…
I want to go to the grocery store with you. I want to see where your kids go to school and see them run and hug you when you pick them up in the afternoon. I want to sit with you in your kitchen, and cook with you at your stove. I want to sit in your living room and chat and have tea, and I want to walk out your front door and see what scene greets you every day. I want to see where you work, and what sits atop your office desk. I even want to know what your spring coat looks like, for goodness’ sake. Because I want to soak in your everyday, so I can tuck it away for the next time we talk. I need pictures in my head, and to know the sum of your days, because I miss you, old friend.
The author says so many things that have raced through my head over the years. Wishes of sharing moments with close friends/family and getting to experience the simplicity of those everyday happenings that I miss out on in living overseas – as far away as 10,000+ miles from many of the ones I hold dearest to my heart. I’ve skipped around city to city, state to state, and most recently country to country since I was 18 – that is now just a year shy of half my life. That being said, this is a pretty familiar feeling – but it doesn’t mean it’s easy.
While I do a decent job at getting back to the US (thanks to my job, frequent flyer miles, and a wonderful husband that encourages me to get home to celebrate weddings, births, etc..), it’s not as easy for my loved ones to get to Australia. It’s a pretty expensive flight, vacations are limited, and for many – kids are now in the picture. Because of this, the only me that most have seen over the past several years is the ‘in a rush’, ‘popping in for an afternoon’, or ‘living out of a suitcase’ Rebecca. Very few of my closest friends know what our house looks like, what type of a neighborhood we live in, what my favorite shops sell, how my favorite wine tastes, the personalities of the great new friends that I’ve made in Australia, or the vision of what our weekends entail. And finally, few see the calm and relaxed side of me just being me in my own surroundings. To be honest, this makes me a bit sad… sad that I can’t share these simple experiences of life with so many that I care about. Instead they just get to see glimpses via Instagram or in the stories I tell. But… that’s life – and luckily phones and Facetime help to fill some of those gaps.
I’m sure many of you reading this post can relate to my sentiments or to those written by the referenced author. There are few folks in this world that can say they’ve got all their loved ones in close proximity.
I may never again live in the same neighborhood, town, or state as many of these amazing folks that I miss – but I do hope that someday time zones line up a little more nicely and long weekends together are an easier option.
Like an old Casey Kasem (or Delilah) request + dedication… there are a bucketload of people that I’d like to send this out to over the airwaves. Those that I’ve spent hours on end with browsing the aisles of Target, listening to music in little venues or at big music festivals, watching Lifetime movie marathons, perfecting embarrassing dance moves on the dance floor, and oh so much more (including those less than amazing moments that everyone goes through – when you just need a good friend to cry with, hug, and say it’s gonna be ok).
When all is said and done, I’m so freaking lucky to have friends that I truly miss. ❤
Rebecca Collins 