We'll Meet Again

Last week, a friend of mine with a particular fondness for films said "so long". It's one of these things where I know "so long" will only be for a while...but how much of a while is what I don't know. Could be months, could be years. What's interesting is that I've been through this a time or two before. It was around this time last year that I said "so long" to another friend, and while it is very much a wireless world...it's still not the same without them around.

But back to the friend at hand, I've spent many a moment over the last few days - moments when I wasn't packing or unpacking boxes - thinking about what things will be like without this friend who most recently said "so long". Specifically, this person's passion for film and for discussion has played a massive part in turning me into the blogger that I am. This person is encouraging, intelligent, and enough of a burr in my saddle never to let me rest on my laurels.

What this person understood in a way that many of us take for granted, is that film is a communal activity. Sure it's flickering images in a darkened room, but it's the way we gather to laugh, gasp, and applaud at those images that makes it more fun. That same communion can be found online, in not just writing about these silly moving pictures, but in reading others' thoughts as well.

Essentially, this friend taught me the difference between pounding out cinematic venom alone in a basement, and engaging in conversation. This person understood that half the fun began the moment the credits rolled.

The bright side about saying "so long" is knowing that this cat is doing it to embark on some of the most rewarding things in life. These words we write and words we read are swell...but let's face facts, they aren't everything there is to life. If I suddenly lost the ability or ambition to do this everyday, it wouldn't be the end of the world. My friend understands that, and in saying "so long", he has inspired me yet again.

This isn't the end of anything. Much as the saying goes in that legendary scene above, it's likely just "The beginning of a beautiful friendship". Hence no goodbye: only so long.

Good luck amigo.