Auf Wiedersehen Again

I recently had a show down with Qantas. By show down, I actually mean I wrote a complaint email to them about downgrading my Frequent Flyer status from Silver to Bronze. Apparently, even though I fly more than enough to gain "status points" (these are different from actual points gained from flying, but are accumulated by the kind of ticket you buy) the fact that I choose a cheaper ticket over a more expensive "status friendly" ticket means I do not qualify to maintain a higher "status". This makes no sense to me, so I am sure I am making no sense to any of you lovely readers out there.
Anyway, this has no real point, except for this issue actually pointing it out clearly to me, that I fly a lot.
Most recently I made a very quick journey to Edinburgh so that I could be present at a friends wedding. Mairi had invited me, I think, not really believing I would make it. But I am so very very pleased to say I did. It was such a good decision to be there - and for anyone thinking about making a trip to be at someones wedding, please do. Unless of course its really financially irresponsible of you to be there or you have another very important commitment.
Being able to see Mairi walk down the aisle with her Dad, to the sounds of bagpipes was quite overwhelming for me. Our overseas friendship has lasted over a decade now, and though I had always hoped, I never really thought I would be at her wedding day. But there I was and there SHE was getting hitched and stuff in a bloody brilliant building and all. It was bloody fantastic!
Of course, it was all over way too soon and seemed we had only just said hello, caught up on the most important gossip (boys) and then it was good bye again.
Kevin from Dublin decided to take advantage of me being close by (well, close enough) and bless him he came over to Edinburgh to spend a crazy 20 hours with me. With such little time, and on the preview day of the Fringe Festival, all we could do was walk, talk about the most important gossip (boys) and see a few shows. Just like Mairi, we picked up where we last left off, but way too soon it was hugs, tears and good byes. I see a pattern emerging.
On my way home I stopped by London where I was meeting Ailbhe, who like Kevin, made the loveliest of efforts to come meet me from Dublin. No sooner had we caught sight of each other but we were straight into the important stuff. Giggling, gossip (boys), drinks and shopping - pretty much in that order. London, like Edinburgh, practically faded into the background as two friends who had way too much to catch up on and way too little time to do it, skipped and laughed and traversed these gorgeous cities.
And then another good bye. Three big big goodbyes in less than a week. Four if you count saying good bye to Susie, who really should be counted as even though I will see her soon enough, time and distance brings all the soppy emotions to the surface, and hells bells I miss that girl.
And suddenly I am back home. Fighting off the post travel missing friends from far away blues, my first job is to get to Melbourne. So that's where I was this past weekend, catching up with the boy from the gossip and generally feeling like life is pretty much freaking awesome. There were many faces this weekend, shows to get me motivated and laughs to keep me smiling and many a moment that will warm the heart should the blues come a knocking.
And then good bye again. At this stage I was really feeling a little bit "over" the whole good bye thing. I know I will see these people again. If anything, having these friendships and knowing how easy it is to maintain them has of course made the world feel smaller - but I am always missing someone.
My sister lives in Adelaide and there are days when I miss her and my nephews so much, I could just jump in my car and start driving. The alternate action is to purchase a plane ticket. I fly down there in a few weeks and so the countdown begins again. The sad thing though, is I know, the moment I arrive, I begin to anticipate the good bye. This can only mean one thing - that I will no doubt be booking a few more flights in the near future.
A very wise man (and rather handsome might I add) said to me that the great thing about the good bye is the lovely anticipation of the next meeting. The "having someone to miss" factor. There is a strange and magical comfort in this for me. I have friends to miss. I have nephews to get incredibly excited about seeing - and for them to get excited about seeing me. And I, most importantly, have brilliant beautiful friends at close hand who make life the lovely adventure it is (I don't want any of my more localised mates thinking I do not love and appreciate them!)

But, I reckon, since I have to suffer the blues associated with the good byes and get my fix of friendship by flying the skies and the jet lag and the baggage requirements and the nausea and the queuing and the waiting and the neck ache and the turbulence and the taxi fares, that Qantas should bloody hell leave my bloody status credits alone.