Monday, October 19, 2009

Best Friends and Goodbyes


This year at school Lex has been lucky to have his best friend Spencer Kaltaler in his class. He and Spencer have been little friends for a long time, and this year in school they have been attached at the hip. They rode to and from school together, played at recess together, and Mrs. England even let them sit together. When I would pick them up from school, they would even tell on each other together! Spencer always told me what color Lex's Star was at the end of the day, and Lex would tell me what color of star Spencer earned. They would tell me of the kids they tried to be friends with or help or stood up for together. They were attached.

Spencer's family is moving to China this week. His last day of school was two weeks ago when Fall Break started. Lex has been sad about Spencer moving, but it wasn't very real because he still saw Spencer. This morning was Lex's first day back to school. He has been telling me that he's wanted me to take him to school instead of riding in his carpool, The Brockwell Bus, since Spencer wasn't going to be there. This morning I asked him again if he was sure that that was what he wanted. He told me yes. I then reminded him that Spencer wasn't going to be there in class today but that he was going to have a really fun day with rocks (that's what they're studying this quarter). He looked at me with a surprised, shocked face, like as if it was the first time he had heard that Spencer was leaving. His little face then changed to a sad, trying-not-to-cry face. So I walked over to him, put my arms around him, and he started to cry a sad, sad cry. He usually has a very dramatic cry with coughing and all kinds of drama. This was different. This was pure hurt and sad. So I sat there, holding him, crying with him, and trying to tell him through my sobs that it was going to be ok and that he would see Spencer again. I have never felt such anguish as I did holding Lex and comforting him. I guess this is just going to be one of the many times that my heart breaks so hard for my kids.

Spencer Kaltaler, thank you for being such a great friend for Lex. Lex is going to miss you and your silliness and your encouragement, but you are coming back in a couple of years, and it can start all over again! We love you Kaltalers! Have a safe trip, and we'll see you soon!!!!

"The things that are hard to bear, are sweet to remember."

~Lucious Annaeus Seneca

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

~Mark Twain