bidding farewell

I can't believe it's been nearly three months since i've posted last. Time really does fly by. this past year has been unbelievably fast though. I can't believe it's already been twelve months since allison moved up here, and probably about eight since we've seriously started talking about moving down to atlanta. today is officially the day that i become a Georgian. I guess we don't move into the apartment until early tomorrow, but i leave today.

last night i went out as a last goodbye with some of my closest friends i've ever had. it's funny, i've been living in knoxville for the past eight years, which is longer than i've ever lived anywhere. in the past, before knoxville, i got used to leaving people; used to leaving friends behind, the usual "oh, yeah, keep in touch," and "yeah i'll be back to visit," you know, speaking half-hearted and whatever. you know you never really go back to visit somewhere you worked at. or if you do, it's only like once, but very rarely if somebody leaves a company, they don't return, or so i've learned. getting back to it, yeah, i've become pretty callous to the whole relocation experience. not this time though. this time is different. this time i've been struggling a lot with leaving and saying my goodbyes. i know i'll be back, and so do they, but it'll just be different. it's pretty hard to think about really. i've been going through an emotional rollercoaster the past day or so. i think about who i've got waiting for me down there and it makes a lot of it better. i have no reservations about the move, the future, and what's to come, i guess at this point i'm so used to the way things are that change doesn't seem like the right thing. but it is. it's time to grow up. that's what i keep thinking whenever i start to feel a little down. it doesn't really help that much but as long as i realize it's the right thing, i know it'll be ok. hell, allison is gonna be the pro at putting up with me and all this, she went through the same thing last year. i've got a good rock to lean on down there, and i'm pretty lucky to have her. and i've got some of the best friends that i'll be leaving behind in knoxville. but i'll be back. and that's not me being half-assed. i can honestly say that i can't live without you guys, and i don't plan to. i love you all.