A touch of sorrow

So much has been happening lately. In the last month, I’ve finished teaching at Highline. I’ve submitted my grades and left my job of the last 7 years. (Interestingly enough, without any marking of my departure. Ah well.) I’ve married the man I’ve loved for the last 10 years. We have begun to divest ourselves of the majority of the stuff we own.

Through all of this, the pervasive emotions have been those of excitement, anticipation and a bit of trepidation. Recently, those emotions have been joined by another, new emotion – Sorrow.

I have moved more times than I can begin to recount, however this time has a distinct difference. I am not leaving Seattle permanently. Every other move was permanent. I left home with no thoughts of returning. Each move has been a definitive end to some chapter of my life with a closing off of all things associated with that chapter. This excursion to Cairo, on the other hand, is an interlude in a very happy life in Seattle. I have very good friends here, with whom I am not closing off communication. I look forward to coming back to my house, my friends, my pub, and rejoining a very good life.

That being the case, I am looking at my upcoming departure with sorrow and a feeling of loss. I will not see or be with these people for 2 years! Life here, with all its minor victories and tragedies will continue without me. My life will continue, on a different continent and trajectory than that of my friends. Things and people that I care about will change in my absence. I will change in their absence. Does that mean that I am regretting my opportunity in Cairo? Of course not! I have, however, recently realized that Cairo will be an amazing adventure for me and Jack, and will separate us from our current life in Seattle in ways that we do not yet understand.

My feelings are still primarily excitement, anticipation and a bit of trepidation, with a distinct tinge of sorrow.