Goodbye Florida

As most of you probably know by now, I moved.

For those of you who didn't know this...I no longer live in Ocala.
I'm still trying to get used to that fact myself.
And it's hard.

I've moved a lot in my life, certainly more than most people I know my age. There's been lots of cities. Lots of people. Lots of good byes. It definitely doesn't get easier, but I've almost gotten used to it.

Almost.

But never have any of my goodbyes been as hard, or as tearful, as the ones exchanged this week. I wasn't expecting any of that, but especially not the tears from myself. Maybe it was the suddenness of my leave, or the fact that I didn't have anytime to process or prepare for it. It was as much as a surprise for me as it was for everyone else. But it made me realize-although painfully- how many wonderful people are apart of my life.

Leaving is always hard, no matter how much time you have to say goodbye. But I learned it's a hundred times harder when you don't have any of that time. There were so many people I wasn't able to see before I left, and leaving that way hurt just as much as it would have saying goodbye.. If I had had the time, I still don't think I would have been prepared for this.

 I wish I could personally write you all long letters explaining everything that's happened and everything I feel. But there's just too many of you lovely people for that to happen. But I knew I had to do something, at the very least to let all these thoughts out of my head...so instead, this is for you guys.

 This is thank you. This is I love you. This is goodbye.

Short and sweet, anyways.

This is for you, all of you. The best friends, the close friends, the ones across town, the people I saw every day and the ones I saw on occasion. This is for the people I spent my time with, teachers, neighbors, leaders, anyone who was a part of my life.

Thank you for your time and thanks for being there. Thanks for the smiles and the laughter and the fun. Thanks for the parties. And the road trips. And dancing. Thank you for the lessons, and the examples, and the support. Thank you for being there to listen and to exchange secrets. Thanks for the friendships. Thank you for all the good things that you guys have been a part of and the memories you've helped make.

I love you guys. There's many reasons why, and they're different for each of you, but I do. Every person involved in my life during the time I spent in Florida was important and cared about, and I'm going to miss each of you so, so much.

So things change, and no matter how much it sucks, life still has to go on. It's part of growing up I suppose, and we all have to get used to it. But no matter what happens, I hope you don't forget about me and our time spent together. You guys meant too much for me to forget everything with time, and I hope you feel the same. 

I love you all, and I miss you more than you can imagine.

xoxo