Before the Covid-19 pandemic, I had a great exercise routine that was also very social. I went several times a week to a gym near my house and endured an intense class. When it was over, I would shmooze in the parking lot with my three good friends who were in the class as often as I was. We had met in these gym classes over the years, and then eventually began spending more time together outside the gym. We sometimes got coffee together, shared books, took walks, ate meals or whatever our busy schedules allowed.
Everything changed once the pandemic happened and the gym shut down for a period of time. One of the women from class was Australian, and she immediately had to return to Australia with her family. Her departure was unexpected and abrupt. Although she had always expected to return home at some point, she was devastated at the suddenness and circumstances. She stayed in touch, but we could tell the pandemic-mandated social isolation in Australia made it hard for her to settle back into life in her home country.
Another of my exercise friends ended up moving out of town to a more rural location. Once her youngest child graduated high school, she and her husband decided they preferred a quieter lifestyle. We have stayed in touch, but we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like. My third friend from the class and I still live in the same town, but without the structure of the group and gym classes, we don’t get to see each other often enough either.
But last week, our Australian friend traveled back into town with her husband on the occasion of a milestone birthday. She rented a local Airbnb for a week and invited us all to celebrate with her. Six years had gone by since our group was last together, but it felt like no time at all had passed. We laughed and caught up on all that has gone on in our lives, and it felt great to be together. The only hard part came at the end of the week when it was time to say goodbye. But hopefully we’ll be reunited again soon, maybe even in Australia!
Don’t be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.
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