Late Monday night I said goodbye to Emily. She was sitting on an airplane, about to head home to Western AUS. I was sitting in my bed. We were both holding back tears, trying to be strong, using the last minutes we had on the same continent to assure the other of how fast the time will go. She will only be gone for six months…and I know it is going to go fast. Summer, school, work, holidays…they will all be back before we know it.
It was still hard to say goodbye.
The hardest part is knowing I won’t be there for the birth of her son. I won’t get to meet him right away. I won’t get to photograph his perfect newness. I won’t be heading south on the freeway every other day afterwards to help her adjust to being a mother of three.
The good part is knowing how much she needs to be home right now. I am so happy for her to get a dose of Australia. And I can’t wait to hear little Yindi’s accent when they return.
Saturday, two days before her departure, I organized a blessingway/goodbye gathering for her and the little ‘beansprout’, and invited the women she has become closest to since moving to the states. There were many who couldn’t be with us, but were there in spirit.
me, morgan, maren, em, denise, amy, lisa
We found the perfect spot on the beach to lay down beautiful linens for sitting, which I surrounded with spaghetti jars and blinking candles. The setting was magical.
As we enjoyed the setting sun, we snacked and talked. I took a few photos of the blooming belly.
Then, by the light of the candles, we each produced a bead to place in Emily’s dreadlocks as a way of keeping her friends with her during her travels. Each of us took a turn choosing the perfect dread for our beads, and telling Em what we love most about her. It was incredibly moving, romantic, connecting, feminine, beautiful. When it came to my turn, I completely lost it. I sobbed into her back as I tried to explain how it felt to know her.
That night, she spent the night at my house so that Anna and Ivy could have one more sleepover. We woke up early the next day and ventured into the fields near my house for some earth mumma maternity photos. Our favorite photo is of her reclining against a low tree branch. (I must get permission from her before I post it. It is STUNNING.) I also captured the two little girls once more. (that is glitter in anna’s hair.)
We said “see ya laters” instead of “goodbyes” that morning. But Anna and I both cried hot tears as they drove away from our house and headed back to San Diego. Even though we can’t see each other as often as we like, just knowing there are only 40 minutes between us is a comfort. That morning as they drove away I felt very, very far away from her.
Denise wrote the most amazing blog entry about the evening, you should definitely check it out. She wrote about it better than I ever could. Before you go, look how great Em’s dreads looked the next morning, with all of us attached.
XO,
Tara
That is so very beautiful, darling! Filled with love, beauty and spirit.
Such a beautiful post. I have a friend that I love like that, what a blessing it is.
i so wish that there was someone in this world that i felt that way about. obviously, i love my hubby and children and other family members but…this friendship/sisterhood that you share…..so beautiful!
so sweet! so sad for the two of you!
why is she going back to AU for six months.. ??? you are right the time will fly. my heart goes out to both of you though.. I only wish I had such a friendship.
I don’t have the “right” words but – amazing, everything about this post -amazing.
I hate goodbyes (or see ya laters)…they ALWAYS make me cry! But I guess the positive is that there will always be the future hellos that are so wonderful!
there are no words big enough, sweet enough, to describe this. I wish I could find friends like these …what a beautiful gift
i am sure emily’s heart was overflowing at the end of the night. i love the connection you two have. your stories always bring a smile to my face and heart. i love you guys.
smiles forever
ria
i’m blessed. i’ve never had to part from a friend like you’re about to be. feeling your love for Emily and it makes me want to hug my freinds a little bit tighter.
thinking of you:( and Em:(
I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it was for you guys to say goodbye…Love the evening you set up for her, it looks like it was perfect. And Em looks amazing!! Gorgeous pics.
Love it!
this entry gave me goosebumps and made me smile. i love your storytelling and the photos that come with it are like cherries on top! :) this post made me miss my girlfriends back in seattle (i’m in australia).
Gahhhhh..these are GORGEOUS Tara and hearing of the love between you two friends darn near made ME cry (and I’ve never met either of you!)
BTW, could you ask Emily where she got that fabulous dress? Someday when I’m pregnant, I’d love to rock something that awesome!!!
i admire such friendships. strength and just the ability of women.
Thank you for sharing, that was a beautiful evening and you are blessed to have had that opportunity.
I have only had one friend in my life that I loved that completely, and unfortunatly she was “taken” and we never got to tell her goodbye in person. I know these next 6 months will be harder than you can stand, but you are blessed that it is 6 months and not forever. Hold her close in your heart until you can hold her in your arms again.
I was locky enouh to have taken a class with Emily once and I know she has a spirit that is larger thank life. You are a lucky person to have shared that spirit on a daily basis.
Keep close and love often, the rest will fall in place.
How wonderful it is when soulmates meet – your friendship with Emily shows so much pureness and love in its best form. I met my soulmate when she (American) and I (German) were both living in Spain – ever since we are trying to live with distance. Except for the year in Spain we never had the chance to live in the same place. But some how connections can be special that distance doesn’t matter. I wish you and Emily (and her growing family! How exciting!) that your connection will continue to blossom. Your last photos speaks for themselves. Thank you for sharing them!
So very sweet and thoughtful. And wowza, doesn’t Em look amazing in that dress. Hugs her body in all the right places. Sounds like a wonderful time was had by all. You know I am DYING to see her preggo pictures!
what an amazing group of women you are…and what a beautiful way to celebrate your sweet friend. i could FEEL the love you all share in your words…and it made me cry happy tears.
and really, think of this as an excuse to go to australia. auntie tara needs to meet the wee one when he arrives :)
oh I didnt know she was having a boy until now – how exciting! emily is such a dear heart xx
This was so beautiful and moving! It makes me long for a close circle of kindred spirits. :)
♥!
I was so touched by your post. What a beautiful celebration for a beautiful friendship. Be happy that you have such a great friendship with someone that you can connect to on a spiritual level. These kinds of friends are extraordinary and distance will never change that. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I am in awe. I cannot tell you enough how I respect, admire and honor your willingness to be so completely open with how you feel. You are and will continue to be blessed – it is inevitable because of how much you bless those around you.
Tears,
Heather
I triple heart you miss tara. i produced a tear from this post. I need to visit. I’ll bring some goodies. :)
Tara,this made me cry! What a beautiful connection you have.
I am so inspired by your depth of love for one another. (I had already read about this on Denise’s and Em’s blogs, but your post moved me to tears.)
Thank you for sharing about your beautiful friendship.
Shell
stunning pictures,
stunning thoughts of friends,
stunning gift to say so long to a best friend
living in a place where your actions would have been viewed in such a negative light is difficult – but i am envious of your friendships you all have together – your tribe…that is a rare gift
Ahhhh, I’m crying crying crying. Wishing you a fast 6 months until her return…your best friend.
So, beautiful Tara…all of you.
looks like a beautiful evening! gorgeous photos
*teary* your friendships are inspiring to me…
What a beautiful and special evening you did for her. I got teary-eyed reading this…Hugs to you and Emily! The time will fly – but – I know what it feels like to be away from your best friend…so I can relate…What beautiful pictures too – as usual! XO
these were lovely…i needed a smile today!
hi tara,
i know of you through denise who has shared a bit of your special connection with em, but i found myself with tears just spilling freely reading your thoughts here. the love you have for her radiates in your words. i know the day will soon come when my bestie and i will no longer be living in the same state, or country for that matter, and i know i will be feeling all these same emotions when that time arrives.
p.s. and i think many of us will now be stealing the candles in the jar idea. so beautiful and romantic. thank you for sharing your special blessingway with us.
i wish you a blessed reunion in six months.
stacy
xo
What an amazing sisterhood you and Emily have with one another. It not only shows through your photos but I can feel it! I know that may sound weird but I genuinely feel the love you have for each other. What a great celebration of life, love, and sisterhood with all these women. Thanks for sharing!
you are such a beautiful friend (typed with tears in my eyes)
I read your blog all the time and had to comment on this one. So inspiring…how you love each other…the bond us women have with each other. Having a safe tribe of women to challenge us to bigger and better things. And what you did for her…the beads, the spaghetti jars, the perfectly mis-matched beach linens. It was beautiful. You captured it amazingly, as you always do. Thank you for inspiring.
Oh I do so know how this feels… when I said good bye to my friend when she moved to the US, I felt like someone severed a limb, like I had only one arm left. The funny thing is that she still lives close in my head… then reality comes knocking when I realise I can’t just pop over for a cup of tea anymore…
Beauty personified.
I hope someday I am able to bask in the sunlight of friendship in such a glorious way.
i cried – big hot tears with you.
Just checkin in on you… it’s been three days and my training says the first 72 hours are the roughest. ::grin:: Wishing you lottsa comfort or margaritas… whichever you would prefer – or both :)
H
Tara,
The sentiment of your day is wonderful, however; I think that you, in the first photo, looks absolutely beautiful. Not to detract from the friend love:)
I dont even know you and you brought me to tears. Your photography has a habit of doing that!
Tara, your photos are so inspiring. What a beautiful group of friends, and the pix of the little ones are amazing!
Oh wow how bizarre I must have totally missed that she was from WA all this time!! Now I am going to be on Emily stalk around the streets… I think she might be easy to pick after all the images I have seen of her.
This post was so incredibly touching. It makes me think of my best friend there in California, and I’m here in Florida. I’ve never seen her little girl in person, but we stay connected as best we can through photos, internet and phone calls. Take comfort you will stay with each other and 6 months will FLY.
Tara – I keep coming back to this post to look at the photo of Anna and Ivy, something about their expressions just gets me. Thank you.
I was also very moved by your beautiful words and photos of such pure and spiritual connections of sisterhood. My bestfriend died in November before we could have the reunion we longed for as we had lost contact with each other for about eight years and found each other online. We had been friends since our early teens. My children are grown and I would love to find even one soul friend. It is so obvious how much love flows back and forth between you and emily. Thank you for sharing such an amazing celebration of love, friendship and sisterhood. May the beautiful memories of your friendship comfort you until you are together again soon.