Goodbyes

I dropped in on my Grandpa Bob and Grandma Janet today for lunch.  After washing down my tuna melt and watermelon with a Rolling Rock, I had to leave for a 2:30 tee time with Cmos.  I hugged them both.  My grandfather is a backslapper when he hugs.  Then I said my goodbyes.  I won't be seeing either of them again until I come back for Christmas, and there was this awkward moment where we didn't really know what to say.  It's hard to tell someone that I love and usually get to see every few weeks, "goodbye" for a significant amount of time.  Finally my grandfather, almost crying, broke through the silence with a, "see you around, dude."  I said, "see you around," got in my car, and left.

I have had this experience with a lot of my friends lately.  There is a moment upon parting where each of us realizes that we won't be seeing each other again soon and then comes the awkward silence followed by some variation of "see you around," "good luck in Arizona," or "Let's do something over winter break..."