You know, as a kid fall was always almost anticipatory. The weather started to change you got new clothes for school and so on.

As we grew older, grew up, got out of school started our lives fall was still a season of change. The way you can feel the weather changing at night, literally the air changes.

But now in later middle age, fall is changing again. I have friends just a few years older than I who are retiring.

Today I said goodbye to one such friend. We first met as young girls quite literally. She went to school with my cousins and was first their friend, then a close friend of another childhood friend of mine. We became actual real time friends after we realized she lived a few miles from me in Chester County.

Once upon a time, she and I even worked at the same company. For me, I took a temp position because I wasn’t sure if I would like it, and she began in a full career trajectory that took her from Philadelphia to other places in the country and back again.

This is now my first friend who is officially becoming an American ex-Pat and moving to Europe. I’m very excited for them. I think my friend and her husband will have grand adventures.

I also think they’re really brave. After all, it’s not easy to literally sell your home and pack up your life and move to another country.

But given what this country has devolved into, I can’t say that I blame them. They will always be Americans, but they have a rare opportunity at a really fun next chapter.

Today we met for lunch to say goodbye. We met locally at Anthony’s in Malvern and we both can recommend their new fall menu. (Specifically the artichoke appetizer and the fall grilled cheese. Yes, we both had the same thing.)

We had a good yak, and a couple of almost tears, and a bunch of hugs. I will miss her, but look forward to visiting once they are settled, and look forward to seeing them when they occasionally come stateside.

Yet still, I felt like in a weird little way I was losing a piece of my childhood. Which is probably not particularly rational.

It’s more emotional.

After all, we weren’t the closest to friends growing up. We just kind of knew and were aware of each other through other people, but there’s still that feeling.

And then there is the general sadness with understanding that people I know in this country are actually for real leaving this country because America is so fractured. I can’t blame them. And most importantly, I can’t blame them for wanting an adventure for the next chapter. To me, it sure beats moving to Florida or some other retirement centric state.

I wish my friend the very best. But it’s not goodbye forever, just relocating.

Thanks for stopping by.