Blue Table Blues–saying goodbye to friends and furniture

Saying goodbye

These past couple of weeks, I’ve been saying goodbye to my dear friends here in Chicago. On Tuesday, I head for Colorado and a great new adventure. I’m moving to a smaller–but very sweet–apartment. So this week, I also said goodbye to some of my furniture.

Do you ever notice how many emotions happen all at the same time with big life transitions? I’m really excited about my move, but I’m also sad, overwhelmed, and tired out. I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful friends to say goodbye to, although part of me wants to skulk away without going through the pain of saying so long. And of course, these days, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with people near and far.

Giving away my furniture–and a bunch of other stuff–felt pretty good. But then I looked at my sweet little table and felt so sad to let it go. When I paused to think about it, I remembered how much life happened around that table–family meals, tea with friends, solo meals, holiday celebrations. When Rachel, my older daughter, graduated from college, she and two friends moved in with me for a year or two. We’d all sit at that table with our computers, working on our own projects, but being together.

Table as archetype

I realized that the table symbolized a place to gather together. Now my daughters live on opposite coasts and we don’t all gather together very often. But that table represents family and community. It’s been a focal point for celebrating special occasions and for everyday life.

Also, letting it go symbolizes letting go of a time of life that centered around family and being a mother and caretaker (as teacher) of many children. Now I am entering a new phase of life–as a mature woman with no dependents. I don’t know yet how that will unfold. But it’s very exciting. And it’s also natural to mourn the passing of that wonderful time of my life as a mom and teacher. So I wrote a poem to my table.

The table, by the way, found a good new home with two women who are also beginning again.

Poetry Friday

Today’s Poetry Friday is hosted by My Juicy Little Universe, with the optional theme of climate change. You can  add a Poetry Friday post there or check out what other poets have to say about that or whatever else is in their minds and hearts. Thanks for hosting, Heidi!

Blue Table Blues

I said good-bye to you, blue table, this week.

After almost 16 years, I sent you on your way.

Do you remember when you first arrived,

All shiny and white with your shapely pedestal?

You came to live in my condo—the first piece of furniture

I bought as a newly single mom.

 

After some unprotected crafting, your shiny top

Lost some of its gleam.

But still we sat around you, family and friends.

So many meals we ate on your sturdy, not-so-shiny top.

Thanksgivings, Hannukah dinners, birthdays

And the ever popular tea parties.

Not to mention all of us gathered around you with our computers

Working alone, together, because of you.

We gathered around you, old friend

And shared joys and sorrows, love and laughter.

Finally, years later, we painted you blue.

Then, after Cinnamon died, I painted you

Turquoise with gray swirls.

Oh, how proud and happy you felt with your new colors!

 

But now I’m moving away,

And there’s no place for you anymore.

I found you a good home—

Someone who fell in love with you

And will cherish you.

I hope you help her share many happy moments.

And that you’ll remember me as

We both head off on new adventures.

 

As I prepare to move,

I think about the turtle

Who carries her home on her back.

 

And you, dear blue table

I’ll carry in my heart.

Next week–

Next week, I’ll be posting (maybe) from my new home in Colorado! I still won’t have my stuff, but I will hopefully have internet. I can’t believe I’m really going in just a few days! Another great adventure–and maybe there will be another table in my life–who knows? Living in a smaller town will be good for me, I think–in my post on being an empath, I write about Judith Orloff who says that often empaths feel better out of big cities.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

xoxo