Jan 9, 2010

We gathered at Elsa Bar in Alphabet City to bid farewell to Rochelle (right). She’s leaving to South Africa to work on a project called “Hear Me Roar” intended to teach children the fundamentals of storytelling. Rochelle leaves Monday.

Mario (left) arrived around 6:26pmEST from the Bay Area, unpacked, scoped out his new spot and made it to Elsa Bar around 11:15pm. That’s hustling. He left New York City last September uncertain about his future. He’ll be starting his PhD in Sociology in New York City this year.

Our generation tends to bounce around everywhere because opportunity is abound (recent times prove otherwise, but it’s been the former for much of the 2000s). And with this stream of opportunity comes unrestrained movement, traveling and transience. We move to learn, investing energy in what I like to think of as on-the-ground learning. I am devout to this lifestyle, but last night reminded me how often I say goodbye to people I care about. Saying “See ya later”, “Until next time” and “Goodbye” is a common occurrence for me, and I haven’t yet mastered the art of being graceful about it. I hug too much, for one. Sometimes I demand people stay. It’s selfish and immature, but I can’t help. I’m a ballerina throwing dropkicks. One goes for now, and another returns; it’s how my “extended family” rolls.