For Good

This past week I sent an e-mail to a dear friend stating how much I missed her (as she has stopped responding to any form of communication for the past 5 months). Her response via e-mail was heartbreaking, it included phrases such as "with distance come distance" and that "sometimes memories are all we have of a person and they have to do."

This response to my e-mail was a complete shock to me considering the fact I invested so much emotion into our friendship. Despite the tears that were shed, this e-mail made me so grateful for all of the amazing and wonderful friends I have made in my many stages of life, the ones that take the time to call me up to tell me a funny story, the ones that send me texts to let me know they are thinking about me, the ones that let me crash at their house, even just for a night, and the ones who leave sweet little comments on my blog. Because of her e-mail I was reminded of how many wonderful friends that love me and whom I love so much, those I met in college, my Spring Summit family, my Changzhou girls and Nanjing boys, friends from Minnesota, and those I will meet in Cleveland.

I've been thinking a lot about this song lately. These lyrics from the musical Wicked have helped me through many goodbyes. Goodbye from college, goodbye to spring summit, and goodbye to the girls I loved so much in China. There is many great truths to learn from this song. I believe with all my heart that people do come into our lives for a reason, and we are led to those who help us most to grow. In this case the second verse put into words how I am feeling about moving to Ohio and leaving my friends in the West

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine

By being my friend:

Like a ship blown from its mooring

By a wind off the sea

Like a seed dropped by a skybird

In a distant wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you:
I have been changed for good

And for those of you who feel like I have forgotten you, I apologize, it is not intentional. I love hearing from you, even if I don't respond.