That's Not Real

I just left the JFRC. I'm technically an alumni. This is the weirdest

feeling, I literally want nothing more than to stay there forever. At

the same time I cannot wait to go home and see my family and my old

friends that I miss dearly.

As we were saying goodbye to everyone outside the gates before we got

on the buses for the airport I wasn't feeling that emotional, rather

not letting myself feel emotional. Then I saw Colleen and sweet baby

Annie and I managed to keep it together. Until Annie turned around and

gave me her signature side eyes. I stated balling. So many things were

represented by Annie in that instant. Colleen, mike, the whole staff

and so many of my memories and happy times this semester I shared with

her as we watched her grow. It was a culmination of all of the

feelings I didn't want to feel.

 I got on the bus and waited to leave and I absolutely lost it.

It was actually clear that this was over. The place that made me the

happiest I have ever been is now in my past. As everyone boarded the

bus it only got worse, each of the SLA'S came on to the bus and gave

us a little speech, each got emotional (even Bryan) and the feelings

kept coming.

The director came on and told us that a part of the JFRC will always

be with us, and that we each left something at the JFRC. Literally

everyone was crying. Mike got on the bus to offer us a final goodbye

and we tried our best to get it back together for the bus ride.

Fail. As we pulled through the end of the driveway we saw all of the

SLA's and staff standing on top of the huge planter surrounding the

tree at the end of the driveway waving. Everyone again started crying.

Not the guarded cries we had before, but full on ugly cries we could

not control. I'm crying now awkwardly alone on my easyjet flight just

thinking of it. It was the perfect sendoff from the people that made

my semester transformational.