For Ysa & Chris
Today is a particularly sad and poignant day for me. Somewhere in Toronto, an apartment now lies empty. The former occupants of it will in a few short hours be leaving it behind.
That place was where I watched "Into the Woods" and discovered that despite being omniscient, a narrator can in fact be eaten and have it come as a great surprise to him. It was where I was glomped countless times, nearly getting my spine crushed in the process. It was where I discovered that some of the best lunches you can have are the ones where you eat all the pieces of a sandwich individually (cheese, meat, bread, veggies).
More importantly than all of that, it was a place where friends lived. Alas, life will always come to call some people down different paths that lead far from where I am. Chris & Ysabet will be calling Halifax their home once more, and whenever I gaze upon the apartment tower that used to be their home in Toronto, I will forever recall fond memories and wonderful friends.
There will be other chances to meet again, to be sure. It's not entirely goodbye. There will be Anime North. I have family living near Halifax as well. But for now I am left with the warmth of having known them, and the sadness of knowing how much further away they will be from now on.
So I raise what glass I have, and toast to good friends, to Chris and Ysabet: here is to safe journeys, to Neko-kyo's and Aibongs, and ultimately to friendships that goes beyond mere geographical boundaries.
Do I want to see you go? No.
Am I tempted to kidnap you both? Tempting...but we have no room to comfortably fit 4 people and an arsenal of books here.
Is this good-bye? Hardly. It's "until we see each other again." Sooner rather than later, I hope, but this isn't the end. It is merely the beginning of something else--for both of you, for me, for the friendship we have.
We'll be seeing you again soon. Ja.
Today's Lesson: sometimes the best memories you have of a place are not made great because of the place, but because of the people who were there with you.
posted by Phillip at 9:59 PM
