Good Byes

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Tonight I take my darling girl to the airport and off she goes on a little adventure all by herself. She's only 12!

When Mr. Bailey and I left for our holiday a few weeks ago, she totally surprised me by sobbing when we left -- just didn't see that coming.

If its one thing we expats do well, and often -- it's good byes.

So, what was your worst good bye? Which one sticks with you?

[Vaucluse]

My heart goes out to you, Mary, it is a tough act . . .

I did the same with my little one when she was seven (going to boarding school in Sydney) and I just cried and cried at the airport with her - next to me was this mountain of a man, a Dutch guy, looked like he could eat trees and he was bawling his eyes out for the same reason.

Still kills me every time . . . . Sniffffffff

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[whatalark]

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What a beautiful child!!

[Vaucluse]

Thank you, luckily (for her) she looks absolutely NOTHING like me . . .

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Wow, a real stunner!

[Vaucluse]

Wow, a real stunner!

Thanks, Mary, but we're talking about our kids . . .

[Saint]

Saying goodbye to my wife of 1 week as I got a plane back to UK knowing that it would be another 2 months until she arriving in UK:(

[Saint]

She's going to break a few hearts in the years to come Vaucluse

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

My most memorable good bye was last year when I thought I was moving out of Singapore for good. On our last night here, before our midnight flight, we got together with our friends and neighbors for one last dinner. Our kids are friends, our maids were buddies -- even our dogs were friends. They come to my house for Thanksgiving. They have us over at Chinese New Year for our Reunion dinner. We're not really joined at the hip and have lots of other friends but we have been each other's touchstones for years.

Anyway, we went out to a little Italian place around the corner, kept the conversation light and breezy. Thought everything was fine. We walked home, joking and having a good time until we got to the top of our driveway -- and oh my god. What followed next can only be described as a biblical. Noah would have built the ark. We sobbed and hugged and traded partners like some macabre dance and cried and sobbed some more. For 10 solid minutes. Everyone, Dads: kids, maids, Moms.

I don't think Ive ever felt more wrung out then when I did getting on that plane. I didn't know people could cry that much. I would be driving around in my car in the States, months later and think of that night and start crying all over again ...

[Vaucluse]

farewells . . . whether it is for a short time, or long - saying good-bye to loved ones who have died . .

[k1w1]

I can't stand big scenes at the airport and stuff and avoid it like the plague. Actually, I'm a total coward and will try and say something (a couple of days before leaving) like "I'll call you before I leave" or something, purely to avoid that last bawling session face to face. That's terrible, isn't it? I wouldn't let anyone in our family come to the airport when we came to SG purely for that reason.

Mary: where is your daughter going? Away for a school trip?

Vaucluse: you have a really beautiful little girl!

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Mary: where is your daughter going? Away for a school trip?

No, no. We told the kids if they made the 'gold honor roll' they could take a trip and she choose to go to Sydney and visit her best buddy. So off she goes.

Another memorable good bye involved the same daughter. We were driving to our old farm house in the US for the last time to say our farewells. We adored the place, but had out grown it and it was time to move on. Through all the apartments and houses in Singapore, this beloved little parcel was a constant. Like true North. I literally keep a piece of it in my office where I can see it.

Anyway we were driving along and as soon as we crossed the covered bridge a mile from home I could hear the sniffling from the back seat. By the time we were in the driveway it was full on sobbing. We walked through each room and cried remembering all the friends and families that shared it with us -- the long summers and Christmases. Fireflies and snow drfits.

The kid still have pact to pool their money and buy it back.

It was 2 years before I could drive by it again and I still tear up

[Vaucluse]

Vaucluse: you have a really beautiful little girl!

Thank you, K1w1, whereas Mary could only talk about me . . .

Wow, a real stunner!

Thanks, Saint, she has started . . .

[Saint]

Thanks, Saint, she has started . . .

You have got your hands full as the concerned father

[Wind In My Hair]

agree, vaucluse's daughter is darling!