Things change

So about 6 years ago when I was in 6th grade, a few new neighbors moved in. Before them, we only had 1 friend in the neighborhood. We became best friends and had our own little group. We'd hang out all the time and our friendships really developed as we got older. Then, in 2011, one of those friends told me he was moving in the summer of 2012. I didn't know how to handle it because I had never considered the possibility of my friends ever leaving. So, as the year dragged on and my friend was enjoying his last year in our neighborhood, I slowly got used to the fact that he was moving. It made the final moment easier but it was obviously still hard to say goodbye. I never had a face-to-face final goodbye as I believe he left early in the morning or so, so that also may have helped. We would end up texting every now and then and talking on Xbox, but of course it wasn't the same. It could have been a lot worse, and I'm glad we still keep in touch. We may even go to the same college in the near future. Then, by some crazy luck, a new kid moved into his house that summer and we instantly hung out and became friends. It was almost like an actor replacing another on a TV show. Although no one could replace any friend, we were lucky to have the opportunity to have another one right away.

As the years went by, things happened as you would expect: other kids went off to college, teachers I liked changed jobs or retired, that kind of stuff. It's still hard to digest because I remember not thinking about this stuff or the future at all. It was just nonstop fun and I never wanted it to end.

Then, just a few weeks ago, the other of the two friends that had moved in 6 years ago told me he was moving. But not in the summer when I would be off to college, no, he said he'd be gone in 3 WEEKS. His family had always been eager to move back to Michigan so they really jumped at the opportunity. That really hit me hard knowing someone I knew for 6 years would just be gone in the blink of an eye. I was going to try to release some of that pressure that had suddenly built up inside me in a blog here, but didn't have the time. So time went by and we had some great moments. We went to a football game, started up a fantasy hockey league, played Smash Bros 4, and had our usual hangouts outside. His family apparently was ready to move even quicker than 3 weeks, and I was told it would be Monday (tomorrow). Then I recently found out it would be today. Yesterday was a hard day for me. We did a lot of stuff together knowing it was his last full day here, and after we went into our homes I realized that may have been the last time I'd ever see him (I thought he'd leave early in the morning as well). I woke up today at 10 and asked him if he'd left yet and to my surprise he hadn't, though when I asked him to come outside he told me he was busy with stuff. I went outside anyway and he joined me pretty quickly. Our other friends came out too knowing it would be the last time we'd hang out in real life. I was told he'd leave in an hour or two. We all talked about the near future and laughed about it. We talked about different ways we'd keep in touch although I already knew we had quite a few. In 30 minutes (they moved the moving time closer again, sheesh his family was eager to go) his mom simply said they were ready to go. He jokingly said "Oh ok, bye forever" and headed toward the car. As they backed out, they slowed and the window opened. After the family said a quick goodbye my friend said "HEY" a few times before calling us scrubs (his catchphrase) and they took off as we watched their car slowly leave the neighborhood until it disappeared. I walked away feeling pretty weird.

So the two goodbyes really contrasted each other. The first gave me time to digest it and we threw a going away party that actually wasn't sad at all and was a ton of fun. The family (mainly the friend) actually didn't want to go but the mother got a job offer she couldn't refuse. I never saw them leave and we just texted each other about his new home and stuff. The second gave me as little time as possible because his family really wanted to go back and there was obviously no time to throw them a party. It happened way too fast, but I wish the best for him and his family. Despite him loving Michigan as much as his family, he grew up here and I feel like he's really gonna miss living in the area. I'm confident we'll keep in touch and we still have that fantasy league he set up to have some fun as well, and we've already got some more online stuff planned. While this leaves me with a pit in my stomach, I know we'll still have a lot of fun together. As for me, I've got to make my "dramatic goodbye" soon but I'm gonna try to be in-state so hopefully no tears are shed over that. I've still got a whole year ahead but it feels like this is the future that you never want to come as a kid. I know adjusting is a process I've got to get used to, but I'll always remember the fun I had growing up.

Sorry for the long read but I just wanted to pour some words out.