Tomorrow's my last non-flight day on this journey.
I'm bidding farewell to a number of dear friends. I don't know for sure when I'm going to see any of them again. And I'm extremely melancholic.
We said our "words of affirmation" to one another this afternoon. We shared with each other encouraging thoughts and memories and love. We talked for hours, going around the circle, speaking to every individual. During all of this, I was one of the few not to shed a tear. But inside I was weeping. I was weeping for this has been an incredible semester. I was weeping, because I don't want this to end. And I was weeping with joy for the new loves I have found in these people.
Toby, Alessandra, Nick, Rachel, Tess, Aaron, Courtney, Kara, Katrina, Paul, Aubrey, Becca, Hannah, Amanda, Sam, Ryan, Allana, Elaina, Sarah, Anna, Kim, Kristin, Alex, Casey, Liisa, Kimberly, Erin.
These are names I will not soon forget. These are the names of some of my closest friends. Indeed, a few of these people I consider just as close as anyone I've ever known. I love these people so dearly and am going to miss them so much.
To each and every one of them, I give them my best wishes and blessings. I hope each of us will look back at this time with love and affection and remember it as a time of growing, a time of learning, and, most importantly, a time of friendship and beauty.
Tomorrow, I will go on a final adventure with Nick, Tess, Rachel, Alessandra, possibly Kimberly, and possibly anyone else who joins us. We will be heading to Rangitoto Island, a volcano in the middle of the Auckland Harbour. Tomorrow will be a wonderful day with wonderful people. I just wish it wasn't the last one.
Oh, by the way, I'm in New Zealand, which is very possibly the most beautiful place on earth. I've had my breath taken away so many times just driving through the country. It is incredible. I wish I could stay longer--which might actually happen due to a volcano in Chile causing many flights to be canceled. With any luck, maybe the adventure will continue just a bit longer....
Guys, it's been great. Thanks for a wonderful semester. I love you all so much.
To my friends back in the US, I am looking forward to seeing you. I can't wait to share with you stories of my experiences here. I hope some of you will take the time to listen and to try and understand as I tell my stories. I will never be able to truly explain what I've seen and learned here, but I look forward to trying. I hope you all will welcome me back with open arms and open ears. I'm going to need some support for a while, because it really is extremely tough saying bye to the amazing people I've met here. It's extremely tough for me to let this segment of my life go. I hope you guys will try to understand.
I may blog again when I get back. I'm not sure. We'll see. For now, goodbye.
Love, Daniel.
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