The Great Exodus of 2011 - Part 2

We have been fortunate to establish our little corner of the neighborhood as a gathering place for friends.  We regularly get together on three-day-weekends for grilling burgers and dogs and enjoying the potluck of sides, salads, and dessert.  The food is always stellar and the company is sublime.

The big maple tree out back provides lots of shade for the adults while the little ones enjoy the kiddie pool.  This year's Memorial Day celebration was our biggest celebration yet.  Everyone came out to bid farewell to friends one last time.

Heidi and Kyle McClintock (pictured on the right) would load up their van the following day also headed for St. Louis.

Heidi has been the unofficial leader of the pack.  She is the organizer of all things fun.  Heidi heads up Park Day for all the moms, and I'm pretty sure she's thrown a dozen baby showers.  She is so loving and selfless, always thinking of others and serving those around her.  I will remember Heidi and the hours spent chatting poolside at Dagg Park.
 

I will cherish all the great conversations that we had as the kids rode bikes up and down the block.  I will value most her loving example.  Heidi could talk to anyone.  She was a brilliant conversationalist, always including everyone in the group.

My kids adored Luke, Chloe, and Rhett.  Chloe and Darren, born just days apart, have the funniest love/hate relationship.  Oh how they love to pound on each other!  Still, Darren would shout with joy when we saw Chloe playing across the street.

 Even weeks later, my kids are still asking if Luke and Chloe can come out to play.  It feels empty here without them, and Park Day will never be the same without our fearless leader.

Before the McClintocks left.  I ran up the road and left them one last chalk drawing (I'm sort of famous for those around here.)  Heidi was so busy waving one last goodbye as she pulled out, I'm not sure that she even got to see it.

The Great Exodus of 2011 - Part 1

I have not been blogging in quite some time, but with good reason.  The end of school was extremely busy, and the second it was over we headed to St. Louis for a week of fun with the kiddos.  I have so many pics to share and much to blog about.  However, I must first talk about the mass exodus.  Truly most of time lately has been spent soaking up every last minute that I could with my dear neighbors before they move.

Living in a community rich with medical and dental students, it is standard practice in June that when rotations are through, residencies are over, and programs are completed, these amazing neighbors move on to the their next adventure.  It is always difficult saying goodbye to such wonderful people.  I am usually comforted by those that remain and by the pleasant idea that I'm dotting the nation with friends.  In fact by the time we finish dental school we should be able to travel all over the country and never need a hotel.  We've likely got a friend to bunk with in almost every state. 

This year however, was a little different.  So many long time friends, the closest of friends, are saying farewell.  I have learned so much from each of them.  Letting them go is really difficult.  There are truly pieces missing.

The first to go were Ali Shepherd her husband Josh and their little ones, Conrad, Amelia, and Ruby.  I was Ali's visiting teacher 4 years ago when she just moved here.  We became fast friends.  I remember the quick telephone calls that ended up lasting hours.  I remember the ward Christmas party where we both shared that we were expecting, and I remember celebrating Amelia's arrival by dropping off a small birthday cake.  When we were blessed to move into the townhomes we became more than friends.  We became neighbors, and our kids played together so well.

On the day that the Shepherd's left, I took Conrad and Amelia to the last official Park Day before the big moves.  I was hoping to ease the burden on Ali a bit.  The kids had a fantastic time at the park which was mildly flooded.  The moment we got there, the kids scattered in different directions.  I went running after the little one and slid in the mud.  It was quite the spectacular dive which left me covered in mud.   While I was so unpleasantly distracted with my wet bum, Conrad found a lovely place to take a mud bath himself.  Some help I was!  I returned Ali's kids to her dripping in mud, covered in sand, and Josh had just finished cleaning the empty bathroom.  I am sure to be remembered by my friends for my constant grace and decorum.

Despite the mud, the Shepherd's loaded up there moving van and headed off to their new home which is (luckily for me) in St. Louis.  It was good to know that I'd be seeing them again soon.

Still, my boys will sure be missing their friends, as will I.