There have been times I thought that was happiness. There have been times that brought tears to my eyes. To be honest, some of my best memories came from my time in Lubbock. At the end of college, Jennifer and I were experiencing a closeness and intimacy with friends, family and church that has not been matched again. When we left, our hearts stayed. Three years later we returned.
You have probably heard the saying, "You can't go home again." Well, that was true for us. We wanted so much to return to Lubbock and renew the relationships we had left. Needless to say, things had changed in our absence; we had changed too.
We stayed there for another four years, but never regained the intimacy we once had with folks. That never set well with either of us and, quite frankly, it still burns in our hearts. Jobs didn't work out, teaching contracts were not renewed and we left again.
Why does all this remembering come up now? Well, I just recently found out that one of our close friends is leaving Lubbock. The news triggered a flood of memories and emotions. We had spent many good times together playing music, buying things we couldn't afford, talking, laughing; heck, we even rode motorcycles together a few times. But, now they are leaving.
In recent years we have not been as close. Life sometimes does that to relationships, but that is no excuse. I should have made more effort to maintain the relationship; lesson learned. It never entered my mind that news of their departing would affect me so deeply, but it seems like I'm revisiting the separation of that early intimacy again. A reconfirmation that one can't go back.
The picture at the top is a picture of my old house in Lubbock on a snowy morning from November 2000. It seemed appropriate.
I suppose I should comment on this. :) I actually read the entry some days ago, but life has been crazy the last few weeks. It's been a challenge to write on my own web log, much less read and comment on others'.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you chose a good title. The old Mac Davis song comes to mind whenever I drive away from Lubbock.
There's a lot to think about. Another friend said I had a lot of bad karma built up in Lubbock. We've certainly seen both good time and bad times. It seems the mix is about even.
Y'all were part of the good times, by the way. :)
We miss those times in Lubbock too!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Christmas!
Troy and Brooke