Saying Good-bye

Today was Makayla's last day at daycare. Her daycare provider, L, half-jokingly told my husband and I to leave as we had arrived two hours early to pick her up. L had known for the past two months that today would be Makayla's last day. And with each passing week, she would bemoan the fact that we were "taking Makayla away" from her.

After the pictures were taken, and the hugs given out, I noticed that L's eyes were a little red. Had she been crying? I didn't feel comfortable enough to ask her but I could not help but notice that she did look genuinely sad.

Makayla's last day at daycare made me realize that we were really on our way towards leaving Boston for Canada, the first step from mere planning to action. It has set the timer running as we rush to tie up many loose ends. It was the first of many good-byes we will need to say before we leave the place we have called home for the past 5 years.

In many ways, Boston will continue to occupy a very special place in my heart, no matter where we finally settled down in the future. After all, it is where where my husband and I first settled down as a married couple; where our daughter was born; where I became an American citizen; and where I have met many wonderful, caring people whom I will not soon forget. The long, painful process of saying good-bye to Boston has begun but the good-bye will definitely not be a forever one.