Life on the West Side

It’s with a heavy, sad heart that I write this, but I’m also incredibly happy and excited too.

I’m a contradiction of emotions.

A while ago, Merrick’s very-bestest-friend-in-the-world, who’s since turned into MY bestest-friend-in-the-world, made some life changing decisions. He decided to quit an unfulfilling job, leave the California sun, and pursue his dreams. Dreams that take the form of a  beautiful woman, his family and the slower southern life in Country Music’s Capitol.

The contradiction of emotions comes from feeling the deep loss of a close friendship, the kind that only comes along once in a while. It’s the sadness of not being able to see them every day  and catch up over drinks and dinner. It’s not being there for their wedding planning. It’s the small day to day things that they’ll miss out on in our lives too.

But it’s with absolute joy and elation in our hearts as we send Casey into the arms of the one he loves. The one who makes all his dreams come true and where his heart truly is. The one who’s also become like a sister to me, and whom I’ve grown to love just as much as Casey. She makes his eyes shine, and when they’ve been apart, a little piece of him wasn’t there either. So it’s clear they belong together, and that they belong together where their love first blossomed – in Nashville.

All these changes are great things except one bad thing… life in Nashville means leaving the “Merrick and Casey” operation. And as much as we tried and tried, the SCB didn’t fit in a carry-on bag, and Casey was already at his limit of checked bags. It stinks that their hearts are in Nashville and ours are in California, because honestly part of our hearts left with Casey and Brittany when they did.

So despite a busy week with lots of deadlines and tasks, Merrick and I spent our days with our best friends. We did lunches and dinners and helped them pack. Because in the end, relationships are more important than grades or papers or deadlines.

We had the big goodbye for Casey and Brittany on Saturday night which was a great way to send them off with a bang. But in the midst of all the fun, we almost forgot they were leaving, and thought it was just a regular night out. So in all that, I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to them Saturday night. And they left on Sunday.

All day Sunday I tried to write this but kept getting too emotional. I was especially sad that we didn’t get to say goodbye. I called both of them Sunday night and left tearful goodbye messages saying how much I loved them and will miss them. Did anybody see Michael Scott’s last episode of “The Office?” When Pam and Michael kept missing each other, and finally she showed up at the airport to say goodbye? That’s kind of how it turned out… because about 30 minutes after I left the messages, Casey and Brittany showed up at our house to say goodbye. We chatted for about 20 minutes, putting off the inevitable. But the time finally came and we brought it in for long tight hugs and said the words we didn’t get a chance to say the night before. Funny how the “I love you’s” and the “Miss you’s” mean more when you’re saying goodbye.

So to Casey and Brittany, we love you more than we can ever express. We wish you nothing but the best in your lives together and in your upcoming marriage. Remember, there’s no true “goodbyes” between great friends, only “see you later’s.” So I guess we’ll see you soon. You guys free for dinner tomorrow night?

Just remember, you can always move back and relive the good ol’ days…