Most of the time, the English language serves me well. However, if you know me, I’m frustrated with the interjection, “Goodbye”. The finality of it is upsetting to me. I prefer to use “see you later”, “until we meet again”, and other words that are use interchangeably such as “Mabuhay” in Tagalog. Loosely translated, it means, “Hello” and “Goodbye”.

And nowadays? Well, CHIT. I’ve done it, now.

I ran off and fell in love with “someone who makes you feel like you’ve been struck by fucking lightning”. [Roy Kent, Ted Lasso, S2, E1 Goodbye Earl] Since God, the Universe, Fate, et al, loves to have a laugh at my expense, Jennifer lives in Washington State. One of the reasons I left, because I couldn’t find love that would last, only to find that love while living in Arizona, YET she lives in Washington!

*insert face palm here*

I grumbled to the sky, “Of course.” Reminds me of this song …

“Hello, Goodbye” – The Beatles

You say, “Goodbye” and I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello”

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Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

The phrase “distance makes the heart grow fonder” is an expression that suggests that being physically separated from someone or something can intensify one’s feelings of affection or longing.

Now that I’m twitterpated, this saying has zero value for me!

1,456 miles separate our two mailing addresses via the road system, even less with flying. Even before we met for the first time, or for the first date we had mapped out our meet-ups up until December 2024. Another layer of complexity was the time that separated us.

We started communicating mid-May, and up to my visit to the Seattle area in early June. As I mentioned in a previous post, that our parting at Boeing Paine Field was one of the most emotionally brutal departures that I can count on one hand.

The countdown started the moment I walked towards my gate area: 21 days.

I thought, Three weeks might be on the threshold of my heart to hang on, but I can keep digging if she does.

“Until we meet again, mí amor,” I whispered.

On the plane ride home, while listening to my curated playlist for us “The Principal’s Office”, I started researching all the languages and/or interjections that meant both, “Hello”, and “Goodbye”.

The following isn’t an exhaustive list, but an illustration that I have more options than the English “Goodbye”.

Tamil [Vanakkam], Italian [Ciao], Hawaiian [Aloha], New Zealand [Kia ora], Samoan [Talofa], Tongan [Malo e lelei], Fijian [Bula], German [Servus], Finnish [Hei], Swedish [Hej], Jewish [Shalom], and French [Salut]

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Oasis In The Valley of the Sun

The first two weeks of July we stayed at an oasis in the Phoenix area: Sunbird Golf and Resort. It’s a gated community for full-time residents that are 55 years old, and older. I’m grateful for the experience of “playing House” so early in our relationship development. I loved learning her idiosyncrasies and loved sharing mine.

Each of us had been on our own [single life] that it was refreshing to have a like-minded partner, team mate, room mate, what have you, that we could truly adopt roles in a non-verbal way. For example, Jen would fire up her laptop every once in awhile in the morning. Since I was awake, and cooking breakfast is literally my wheelhouse, I would do so without being asked, while I brewed us coffee.

As a form of reciprocity, she would recognize that my sleep the night before was interrupted and abbreviated so she would suggest a nap before an 8-hour work shift. She would continue with activities that were low in volume while I rested.

All of that and more solidified our status with each other: an exclusive, monogamous relationship.

Caring For Pink Elephants

The first pink elephant in the room that arrived was: who’s saying ‘I love you’ first, and when. Well, if I was gonna say it, I am (was) scripting it. Her term of endearment for me is “Word Wizard”, so I have a grip of reputation to uphold.

I started with words from my heart, in front of the bathroom mirror. Then polished it up a grip each time I wrote it down on scrap pieces of paper. Next, another few practices ‘sesh’ in the mirror, and in the shower.

Finally, the day of departure, July 16th. I’m gonna say it to her today! I certainly wasn’t gonna wait until the airport with all the noise and commotion to dilute my message, and distract her attention.

We shut down the house, and prepared it for not having a human occupant for some time. We started to load up the vehicle for airport drop-off. I waited until the last trip, before looking at Jen. I cleared my throat, and launched into this:

“I’ve said I love you every day and in my little way, such preparing your coffee the way you prefer, making breakfast, kissing you on the forehead in bed. But I’m saying to you, I love you, Jen.”

She immediately cried tears of joy, she kissed me, hugged me, and replied, “I love you, Los.”

“Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.” ― Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

It was another tearful airport drop off that included the I love you’s exchange.

The countdown this time is 16 days, yet … it doesn’t offer either of us much more comfort than having grind out 21 days. The Thomas Rhett song, “Craving You”, resonates with me.

Every time we have to say goodbye /
I’m counting down until we say hello /
Every touch is like the strongest drug /
I don’t know how much longer I can go /

My focus now is what can I do get to Jen sooner than the trips already made. However, I want the time to slow down while we are together! Speaking of time, it’s time to button up this post.