[at-l] the long goodbye

[palalee at charter.net (Paula Looper)]

...is tomorrow. Been reading the list since December, getting my darlin'
Franky (Mapster/Wrongway) ready for his take-off tomorrow. Been reading
about dogs, and how they know when their people are leaving/coming back,
etc. and how they grieve, but no one seems to be talking about the
people left behind? I will miss Frank, and I know he will miss me. We
have been joined at the heart since 12/89 and the thought of six months
apart is frightening, but it is going to be a HUGE learning experience
for BOTH of us! I am going to continue reading the list, will be in
touch with my hiker as often as circumstances permit, but I wouldn't
pull him home for all the tea in China! I am behind him 100 percent, he
has an abundance of nieces and nephews cheering him on, friends, family,
e-mail companions, all wishing him complete success.

I envy him the adventures he is about to have! The last-minute
preparations this week have made me MORE confident in my ability to put
together a good maildrop rather than less. The on-going long-range
planning has prepared me for the things that he usually handles without
me (oil changes and other maintenance on our hoopty, bill-paying, not
just the monthly ones, but the "occasionals", like homeowner's
insurance, property taxes, etc., general household maintenance). 

My adventures will be rather more mundane, but I embrace them :) I want
my hiker to be as proud of me at the end of his journey as I am of him.
And as far as the posts about relationships between disparate
individuals, I don't think you could find a more different pair than the
two of us, but anyone who meets us agrees that what we have works, and
not just works, works like two-part epoxy (each part not real sticky,
but together can dangle an elephant from an i-beam.)

My heart goes with you, my love. I guess "Happy trails" has been done
and done and done. :) Best wishes to --all-- the Class of 2004!

Squeaky
2011 is coming :)