Last Thursday, the Shaws hosted a Bye Bye BBQ (as I liked to call it) for the Shaheens, Marchants, and Cardons. They all just graduated and are leaving us. :( We had to get together for a group picture before we left and it surprised me how big our group was! It almost looked like some big, extended family picture. And really, I guess that's exactly what it was. I would definitely consider all of these people family.
(Had to add this one... look at these two guys with such great, and identical, taste. :)
Bron and Megan were leaving on Saturday, so we were able to persuade them to go out to dinner one, last time, Friday night. You could kind of call us 6, the dinner group. I couldn't even count how many times we've gone to dinner together. This time we tried someplace new, called The Shores, in North Tonawanda, overlooking the river. Megan's mom, Alice, was with us, since she's helping with the move. I believe it was her, that actually teared up first as we were finishing eating. That triggered Megan, which got me going, and then Rachel. :) And now I'm crying again, just remembering it! It was SO SAD to say goodbye. During dinner, I had to ask the cheesy question... what is your favorite Buffalo memory together? We talked about the first time we met at the Shaheen's 4th of July breakfast, game nights (LATE game nights, before the kids came... those were the days :), Senecca Lake trips, Crystal Beach, lunch with the girls, bon fires with the guys.... even Alice added her favorite memory of the Letchworth Ballon Festival. I could fill pages with memories. We have shared holidays together, been there for babies being born, and mourned when a good friend passed away. We've laughed and cried and stayed up way too late talking. The friends we have made out here (and this really applies to all those families leaving this year) have made this experience something we will never forget. To quote FRIENDS, "It's like the end of an era!"
So how can you really say goodbye?
I haven't watched Oprah in years, but I did make it a point to watch her finale last Wednesday. (It even made me cry... but then, I guess that's not very surprising!) I liked how she ended it, by saying, "I won't say goodbye, I'll just say until we meet again." And I think that's really applicable.
You don't meet people like this by chance. They are put in your life for a reason. We are better for having known them. Thank you, Bron, Megan, Dave, Crescent, Creed, Tiffany, Ryan, Rachel, Garth, Melissa, Anthony, Kristi, Thayne, Natalie (and all your great kids) and everyone else that has made Buffalo feel like home these past 3 years. To say we will miss you isn't even scratching the surface. We love you and wish you the best!
9 comments:
Awh, just makes me think of the famous dumb and dumber scene, "I hate goodbyes!" No but really that makes me sad for you goodbyes are the hardest! I love that picture of you guys outside even some of the kids are smiling :)
So I am in tears right now just reading this post. You worded everything so perfectly. I hate goodbyes! And like you said the other day, this is just a glimpse of how hard next year will be. I love the big group picture! Oh how we have grown. :)
jael and i really understand what youre going thru right now and its hard. we are in the same goodbye boat as well, and i think thats when "the mom" in us really comes out. you know, the "i dont like change" gene that i know for sure you and i got, :). we just moved out completely from our flat in burgdorf and its so hard realizing that its over. but like what dr. suess says, "don't cry because its over, be happy that it happened."
Where is the muchkin in the last photo? Good-byes are hard but you have made lasting friendships and memories that will last forever.
I sure hope somebody busted out So long, farwell from Sound of Music. But maybe that is more up Christophers ally:) No but really that would be hard to say goodbye. You guys have all been really close. I think Christophers right with that we don't do well in that catagory. You probably do the best. You have lived tons of places but it is still hard:(
Of course I've been watching! So I'm assuming Bentley is inactive due to his comment wishing Ashley could tickle his... His house in UT looked super nice. He seems kind of dumb though. Like he's not all there. SO whats the scoop. Why did he get divorced? Have you seen Michelles youtube for how she curls her hair? It's pretty funnny.
I cannot tell you how much I miss Buffalo. It truly is a time of life that is special. I know I will love my life here too, but it won't be the same. Soak up your final year in the Buff! Spend LOTS of time with your best friends. (You are so good at doing this already--you create memories.)
Miss you!
This made me cry...oh how I will miss it there! You are so good at putting things! I loved this post! Thanks for being such good friends. We miss you so much!!
Leaving our Buffalo "family" was definitely one of the hardest goodbyes ever! There will be no other time of our life quite like the one we had as students. I miss everyone so much!
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