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