Friday, June 26, 2009

Parting

Saying good-bye makes me nervous. Maybe it's because it's the last chance to have everything said, at least for a while.

Today was the last of my 5-day workshop at Meredith on writing fiction. I've spent 35 hours with this group of writers in the last week, and, inevitably, we talk about some fairly intimate stuff. Writing brings that sort of thing out.

So it feels strange to finish the last lunch and maybe not see some of them again at all. My impulse is to dodge good-bye, grab up my picnic-basket-briefcase and run.

Maybe somewhere there are workshops in saying goodbye. Perfectly reasonable that such a thing would exist. If we can take lessons in leadership and assertiveness and stopping smoking, surely it's possible.

Probably lesson number one is: pause and at least say something before running out the door. I'm happy to say I did boldly manage to do that much.

It's so hard to know what to do with emotion, at least for chatty introverts like me.



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7 comments:

Mamie said...

The chatty extrovert in me looked for you at the end. Glad it wasn't good-bye forever, just for now. Thanks, Peggy, for a great week.

Carol Cooley said...

Parting reminds me of how hard it is to let go. Thank Goodness for memories.
Peggy, I enjoyed the week very much, thank you. My daughter found my TOAD and loved it enough to "keep it forever". Good bye, TOAD. Sigh.

Elyse said...

Peggy, I felt as if I said too much about wind-resistant umbrellas. Perhaps your short-but-sweet approach to goodbyes is better!

Thanks for an enriching, encouraging and enlightening week (and any other positive "e" words you can think of).

Anonymous said...

"It so hard to know what to do with emotion" ...your writing is
wrought with your uncensored emotions Peggy. You have inspired fellow tribesmen and tribeswomen
to seek connections to their true voice through the written word. It is not goodbye; it is hello to the humanity that connects us all.

Peggy Payne said...

How nice to see you all this morning! So it wasn't good-bye after all.

I loved being with y'all all week. What a great group, from the very first moment.

LOLed at the second thoughts about wind-resistant umbrellas, Elyse. That puts some of my second-guessing of myself in perspective. It's an important topic, especially for the NY-bound. Thanks.

lynn doiron said...

Writing from San Diego and still two days from home in Rosarito, but talking of North Carolina and people met to the point I'm certain the friend I'm staying with, a friend of fifty-plus years, would like to put a sock in my mouth to shut me up. Your guidance and instruction made all aspects of my first Meredith workshop experience precious and insured my need/desire to return. I thank you for your humor and wisdom.

Peggy Payne said...

Good to have you and Irene in the group, Lynn. Do stay in touch.