We gathered today in Lynchburg for the high school graduation of Heidi's goddaughter. The last time we were in this little city on the James River was nearly 18 years ago, when the same child was born. Shortly after that, her family moved to New Jersey, and over the years we've attended christenings and first communions and other milestone events of hers and older sister's where we have met her grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and other close family friends. It's been about 10 years since the last celebration, though, and in that time the family has returned to the same private school where her dad worked when she and her sister were born, and it was from that school that she graduated today.
How strange it is to spend the day with people that we know and keep up with through our mutual acquaintance but have only met a few times and haven't seen in ten years. Dining on sandwich wraps and cookies, the quality of interaction shifts from superficial to friendly to almost intimate. But then the conversation flags and we stand awkwardly to throw our paper plate in the trash, refill a solo cup with ice tea, and repeat the ritual with another partner until it's time for good byes. There will be the decision to hug or not to hug. "Safe travels!" we will say. "It was so good to see you again."
"Until next time!" they might answer,
And because it occurs to us that these meetings are most definitely numbered, we nod and lean into that hug.
Life Lesson: Live in fragments no longer. Only connect! ~E.M. Forester
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