LJ Idol Topic 5.1 Saying Good-bye

[puppetmaker]

There is a Beatles song that Target almost ruined for me called Hello Good-bye This is the tune that dropped into my head when I read the topic line. But the lyrics got me to thinking about that contrast in my life and of course another Beatles' tune popped into my head this time it was In My Life. (Yes, there are plenty of times that I think about my life in terms of Beatles' songs.)

Good-bye is what we are taught to say at the conclusion of something. At the end of a conversation on the phone we say "Good-bye" to inform the other party that our communication is ending. We say good-bye upon parting in various social situations. Many times those conclusions leads to "Hello" for the next time we meet.

There are the occasions in which you know it is a final saying of "Good-bye". It is a conclusion to which there is no chance of a "Hello". I have had a number of those this year and they forced me to take a look at my life and the world around me. Those have a finality that can be rather devastating at the time but time has a habit of making those things fit into place and hurt less.

There are the "Good-byes" that turn out not to be as permanent as we think they are going to be. I have said "good-bye" to things only to have them show-up on my metaphorical doorstep again saying "Hello". Sometimes I am happy to see them and other times I am frustrated to see them but I am always surprised to see them.

Then there are those things we should really say "Good-bye" to but can't seem to quite do it. Bad habits can be very hard to say "good-bye" to. People we should part with for various reasons but we can always come up with a reason that we shouldn't. Situations that are not good for us but we stay in them for a variety of reasons that makes sense to us but might not to the people around us. We can always find an excuse not to say "Good-bye".

I have been working on this essay for a couple of days now. Parts of it in my head when I can get the music to stop and parts of it on the computer so I can dump it out of my brain. I have been futzing with it and rearranging things and changing word choices but there comes a time that I need to say "Good-bye" to it so that the reader can say "Hello" to it. Given my druthers, I would probably work on it until the end of time but I have learned to stop second guessing myself and say good-bye to my work which was a hard lesson to learn.

This was written for the 5th season of the Live Journal Idol. I ask that if you liked it, then please vote for me when the poll goes up. Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell you when that is *grin*. I do hope that you enjoyed it

Comments

odd...

[nux-vomica.livejournal.com]

i picked this morning to write a few people out of my life. well, two. but it was needing to happen.

[morning-stand.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this.

I also laughed because, in reference to the Target note, when I started to write my entry I actually wrote goodbuy. lol :)

And, "In My Life" is going to be my father/daughter dance at my wedding :)

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

Nice.

Cheers...

[walkertxkitty.livejournal.com]

Well written, as always. I enjoyed reading your brain snippets.

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

nice entry.

[lieran.livejournal.com]

Very awesome. Now keep me updated and tell me what to do.

[rosepurr.livejournal.com]

YAY! Beatles.

[http://users.livejournal.com/____hejira/]

I know what you mean about editing. Good entry.

[skimmed-miilk.livejournal.com]

I liked this, I'm enjoying reading people's discussions on the subject of goodbye almost more than those who have chosen to relay an actual incident.

[sushimustwrite.livejournal.com]

I like the meta aspects of your entry. Sometimes there's so much pressure to make the entries just right when really, we have to let go of them eventually and let them say "Hello world!"

[lilmissmagic71.livejournal.com]

Ironically, I was grooving to my Beatles collection last night as I cleaned my house... and lamented to the old man how disappointed I was that so many of the songs had been hijacked for commercials.

This was great... succinct but pointed. I like that. Great entry!

[jenandbronze.livejournal.com]

Geez, I am voting so many folks, including you... so many talented folks with excellent writing skills! Great job, another great perspective.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Interesting how music triggers things! I do the same thing...not always with Beatles songs but sometimes!

[libra-dragon.livejournal.com]

I loved reading this. Good job!

[shadowwolf13]

Very well written. :)

Thank you for sharing.

[ahavah]

This was very well written. And, of course, bonus parts for slipping in an unexpected Beatles choice. :)