Bon Voyage, Good Luck and Godspeed

Tomorrow is my birthday and tonight is Scary Farm. But I'm depressed right now.

Last night was the bon voyage party for Eric & Lalena Hutton and their house. By next Saturday, they will be driving off to their new place in Sacramento. And last night we found out that John & Soni Barrett are leaving within weeks for North Carolina.

Now, we've known John & Soni for a few years now, but it was only recently that we started getting close to them. Mainly, I think, because they have two kids and we have one of the way. They were pretty much our only friends that had children and so were the only ones that could really understand what it's like to have a child on the way. It was going to be nice to have another couple that we could talk to, hang out with, because they could understand what it's like to be a parent.

Eric & Lalena on the other hand, I've known them for something like 8 plus years. First working with Eric, then meeting Lalena because of gaming. Both of them were in our wedding. They are both irascible sorts at times, but the despite any grumpy exteriors, they both have hearts of gold. They were the social glue that kept so many of us in touch with each other, if for no other reason than because they so often offered up their house for parties. And now that glue is gone. We've known them in gaming and we've known them outside of gaming.

And now four friends are gone.

We understand the whys. We understand their reasons. And it's not like we can disagree with them, even if it was our place to do so.

But understanding the reasons why doesn't stop the sadness of seeing our friends leave us, not knowing if we'll ever see each other again. I'm just glad I was able to hold back the tears until I had already left.