Saying farewell to my mother as she drove away from our strange September family reunion in Maine—sweet, happy, smiling, laughing. Her cane was in the back seat, her bags in the trunk, and the day was looking cool and blue and nearly cloudless, perfect for a drive. We waved and blew kisses as she headed out of the drive, after the lingering moments talking through the car window. And I waved even after the car rounded the road’s bend, feeling good about goodbyes, and thinking how the next time we'd see each other would be for my son’s high school graduation, another milestone for this little family. Funny how it takes more than fifty years of coming and going and bidding adieu to get it right, to know everything we’ve been through, good and bad, leads to a sense of calm and measure of expectation that the next time we meet will be even luckier and more amazing than all the times before.
David Gray’s song “Say Hello Wave Goodbye”