Of friends, coffee and goodbyes

Last weekend, I was at home. Three days were spent in the city, largely out of the house.
Over two hours on a saturday afternoon at Landmark, followed by about an hour at Barista in the company of A~.

Amethyst: it's a lovely place. Old house, cane and now metal chairs in the garden, coffee. The crowds spoil it for me but then, when in the company of good friends, these are forgotten.
I had a good time. Visited a temple on Sunday morning, attended a quiz, met one more close friend over a cup of coffee after the now habitual trip to Landmark.

I have mixed emotions about going home. It's pleasant to go back to familiar surroundings, meet people you care for and love. Home food rocks... though my expanding waist-line could say the same about my regular meals. But leaving is hard, I don't particularly enjoy the lonely journey back or knowing that work is lined up.

This trip was even more so... so many goodbyes.
How do you say goodbye to a close friend? a loved one? to someone whose existence you had taken for granted?
A number which you'd now dial and be greeted by silence? With whom do you share the late night conversations, the meetings near the house gate, the memories of past bus journeys?

This has to be done though... you know, you knew all along, people want different things. But when you actually have to bid adieu, you wonder... is growing up worth all this?

All who left: Thanks for the memories