Man’s feelings are always purest and most glowing in the hour of meeting and of farewell.
~Jean Paul Richter
Our goodbye was written slow. Ideas were added to a marinade in my mind, where they swam for hours without rinsing.
I’m not an emotional writer.
I often write without pause; thought in time with keystroke. I can type for twenty minutes, crack my knuckles, then type for twenty more.
Yet it is surprising to me, though I’ve been doing this for nearly a year, that I routinely catch myself on the verge of tears as I am reading something to Daisy for the first time. I never sob, just speak with sudden seams, surprised because I did not feel a thing as I was writing.
The farewell was different.
From the moment I sat at the keyboard, my heart was burning fuel.
Any regular reader of Writer Dad knows the value I place on words. I’ve never written a post just to publish. The letter needed to explain what has happening, along with the why, and the when, and the how.
The letter is a document that will stay in our family forever. A thousand words that sparked our migration. Not to place to much portent on a straightforward adios, but I soon realized I wasn’t writing a simple goodbye.
I was penning a farewell address.
Everything pooled into the first draft. I typed without ties. Words sat for a day, then multiplied. When the farewell was full, I sliced it in half, rinsing it of every dispassionate syllable.
Our departure served also as introduction.
Our families know me as Mr. Sean, a wordslinger for sure; but only from the pie hole. They’ve never known me to throw it down quite like I do for you guys.
The last thing I wanted to deliver was our weekly newsletter.
Nothing clinical.
I planned to place our parents behind the eyes of our passion so that they might not only understand our intention, but cheer us along.
Here are three excerpts to set the tone:
If there’s something I thought I knew then, that I’m certain of now, it’s that Daisy and I were born to work in tandem. Like bow to fiddle and key to lock, symphonies sing and doors open when our thoughts find themselves breathing into open air.
If we want the equation to balance, we must alter the variables on either side. Otherwise, we will never render dreams to reality.
A life well lived is done with an open mind, and a readiness to risk. Though this conclusion casts our future into uncertain shadow, it is the shade we require.
The letter did exactly what it needed to do. The response was next to perfect.
I couldn’t have written that letter two months ago. I wouldn’t have had the need or the ability. I’m learning fast. Practicing every day. Here, for you guys.
Thank you all for being here, and driving me toward something better.
Writer Dad
If you enjoyed my words, please subscribe by RSS or Email. If you’re a Stumbler, please consider Stumbling. Thanks.
About Sean Platt
Good luck Sean. Nice to hear that you are so deeply involved in this with your wife. Sounds like you two have something terrific.
Jamess last blog post..Hey, it could happen…
Good luck Sean. Nice to hear that you are so deeply involved in this with your wife. Sounds like you two have something terrific.
Jamess last blog post..Hey, it could happen…
Weird, I could have sworn I commented here and it’s not here. It’s okay, but weird.
stephs last blog post..Magic in the Air
Weird, I could have sworn I commented here and it’s not here. It’s okay, but weird.
stephs last blog post..Magic in the Air
Benjamin: Thanks for saying that. It’s the way I like to write, every post significant.
James: She’s nothing less than my best friend.
Steph: That’s not a comment! You might be thinking of the post from the day before. Same subject.
Benjamin: Thanks for saying that. It’s the way I like to write, every post significant.
James: She’s nothing less than my best friend.
Steph: That’s not a comment! You might be thinking of the post from the day before. Same subject.
Farewells are toughest when there’s no path forward. You have a journey and you’re on a mission. You’re set.
That said, there’s always something tender about those heartfelt good byes. I don’t say good bye in those cases. I just say … until we meet again.
Farewells are toughest when there’s no path forward. You have a journey and you’re on a mission. You’re set.
That said, there’s always something tender about those heartfelt good byes. I don’t say good bye in those cases. I just say … until we meet again.
I don’t know if you know just what an amazing wordsmith you are. You don’t just write: you sing and dance and play with words in ways that make us readers feel refreshed, loyal, and happy to have witnessed the fun. I’m sure that came through in your letter, too.
SpaceAgeSages last blog post..Criticism’s dark and light sides
I don’t know if you know just what an amazing wordsmith you are. You don’t just write: you sing and dance and play with words in ways that make us readers feel refreshed, loyal, and happy to have witnessed the fun. I’m sure that came through in your letter, too.
SpaceAgeSages last blog post..Criticism’s dark and light sides
J.D.: With all of our clients, it’s until we meet again.
SpaceAgeSage: That’s one of my favorite things anyone has ever said about my writing. In fact, I think you’ve inspired me to start a page of quotes from readers. Thanks Sage, that was really nice.
J.D.: With all of our clients, it’s until we meet again.
SpaceAgeSage: That’s one of my favorite things anyone has ever said about my writing. In fact, I think you’ve inspired me to start a page of quotes from readers. Thanks Sage, that was really nice.
Hi WriterDad.
I just wanted to say that I recently found your blog and find it incredibly inspirational, especially considering my own attempts to finally take the risks and devote myself to my true passion of writing.
I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts the last few days and your family comes across as extraordinary.
Hi WriterDad.
I just wanted to say that I recently found your blog and find it incredibly inspirational, especially considering my own attempts to finally take the risks and devote myself to my true passion of writing.
I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts the last few days and your family comes across as extraordinary.