See Ya Soon

Life is amazing to me sometimes.
I have been thinking so much this week...about so many different things. I have sat down numerous times to write a new blog...but each time I did...I couldn't find the right words to articulate what I was thinking. I am hoping this time, it works.
We watched the L O S T series finale last weekend with two sets of couples that we love dearly. One set we've been watching L O S T with each week for the last two seasons, while the other set just started watching it in January...and caught up just in time to watch the finale with us. It was bittersweet watching the finale together, because it wasn't just the ending of L O S T...it was the ending of life as we've known it the past almost two years.
There will be no more L O S T dates each week. There will be no more opportunities to tell friends about how amazing this show is...and for them to be able to watch the final episode with us (well, at least not for the first time). And, the six of us will never be able to hang out like that ever again.
Before I continue with that thought, I feel I owe it to myself to try and write down some of my thoughts on L O S T as a whole.
Josh and I were never "religious" TV watchers. When I was growing up, my family used to watch certain shows every week...but only if we were at home or able to watch them. There was never a need to watch a show from start to finish...or even to watch the episodes in order. Shows like Full House and Family Matters didn't necessarily need to be watched in order anyway (at least, that's how I felt then). But, all that changed for us about three and a half years ago...when the sixth season of 24 started. We watched an episode with Josh's brother and were instantly hooked. From then on, we began watching episodes of different shows religiously...from beginning to end. And, we discovered we actually really enjoyed doing that. So when Josh stumbled upon L O S T, and we watched the first episode, we were hooked.
We watched the first four seasons in less than 3 months. There were lazy Saturdays where we watched 8 episodes in a row, because we just HAD to know what happened next. We then had to wait about 4 months before the 5th season started...in which time we re-watched all four seasons.
Anyway, to make a long story short, we really enjoy L O S T. Not only was the mystery a huge draw to us, but we love the emphasis on the characters and their stories. Never before had I cared so much about a character's back story then I did while watching L O S T. And while we had our own theories along the way of how it was going to turn out, we were definitely surprised throughout the sixth season as we got some of our questions answered.
The finale was no different. It delivered the amazing character stories we'd known and loved, while answering a few questions, and emotionally drawing us in. When the two and a half hours were finished, I had the biggest lump in my throat from trying not to weep. My eyes definitely welled up with tears more than once, but I was too embarrassed to weep in front of those other five people. And yet, I'm not sure why I felt that way...as most of them were crying and fighting back the tears as well.
While the finale of L O S T did not answer every question I had, I felt satisfied with the way it ended. Because I realized the importance of L O S T and the part the fans enjoyed the most was not the mysterious part...but the relationships between the characters. The relationships are what shaped and molded the direction of the show. The relationships are even what mattered the most in the ending. Those years the people on Oceanic 815 and the others on the island spent together were the most important years of their lives. They found purpose, forgiveness, love, and a camaraderie that they had never known before. The events they went through together shaped the rest of their lives, as well as their "afterlife".
I think that is why I got so emotional. Because the more I thought about it, the more I realized how important relationships are in my life. While I have had many different times of growth in my life, these past two years have definitely brought the greatest growth. The people I have met have shaped me, challenged me, and lead me to the places I've needed to go to find out more of what God wants for me. Whether the people in my life were only there for a short time, or will be there for the long haul, they have all made an important impact on who I am as a person...and I will never be the same because of them.
So to go back to why the six of us will never be able to hang out like that again...the second couple of the two are moving back to their home this week. Even though I feel like Josh and I have only really gotten to know them pretty well in the past six months, they have been in our lives for almost two years now. And even though that is not that long, they have impacted our lives in amazing ways.
We had to part ways tonight. It was much harder than I thought it would be. Not knowing them extremely well, I had no idea I would be this emotional. And yet, I have been thinking about them leaving non-stop for a week now. We were able to spend a good five hours with them on Friday night...chatting, sharing stories, and learning more about each other. And it wasn't awkward at all. It was so natural...like we'd been best friends for years. The wife said it perfectly tonight as we hugged each other through our tears:
She told me that she felt like she and I had this really cool bond...that really couldn't be described in words. We just felt comfortable with each other and she knew she could trust me. She also said that she knows we are going to be okay, that this isn't the end, and that we are going to stay in touch. It warmed my heart immensely to hear her say that, as that is exactly how I feel about her.
When I gave her the final hug for the evening at Chipotle, she told me she would see me soon...and I know that she will. This is not the end of our friendship...it is only the beginning. We may be separated by hundreds of miles, but in our hearts, we will always be close.
Our newfound friendship reminds me so much of L O S T. While the time we've spent living in the same town may be over, our bond will never be broken. She has been a huge part in the most important part of my life thus far, and for that, she will never be forgotten (and that horrible lump in my throat from the finale is back again...oh, dear tears, it is ok to fall).
See ya soon, dear friends. You will be missed, but we will see you very soon.