One of the hardest parts of being a Peace Corps volunteer is leaving everyone behind. Their lives go on, and some of them have major life events take place while you're gone. They get married, have kids, get new jobs. While most of this blog is about me, this post is not. This is about a few friends back home. The internet has allowed me to have a far easier time keeping up with people back home than it was when my mother was a volunteer. This has often been helpful, but sometimes, I will see something and a pain for not being there with friends to celebrate with them or be a comfort. So I'll do the best I can right now.
First of all, I want to congratulate my good friend Phil Sharp on getting married. Phil and I were housemates when I lived in Israel, and he was one of my closest friends during that time in my life. Phil, I wish you and Jenna the very best as you start the next stage in your life. May you have many happy years together.
Another friend of mine who got married is Toby Kathan, who helped me through my years in the Boy Scouts, and while we drifted apart during the last few years, I wish you the best.
While I could probably fill up a post simply congratulating all the people I know who've gotten married during the past year (the reality of people my age), the truth is, those are the two which really stuck out to me.
A few months back I wrote a post about Tulane President Scott Cowen retiring. President Cowen, I want to once again offer my thanks for all you did for Tulane. I will never forget the cup of coffee, and my professor's response when I told him why I was late to class that day. And then there was the green hair at homecoming. When I tell people I went to Tulane, one of the most common responses has been comments on how good a school it is, and that is in no small part thanks to your leadership, and while I don't latter myself enough to think you are reading this blog, I hope you know that I am among those who greatly appreciate all you've done for the school and the city of New Orleans. And President Michael Fitts, I wish you all the best as you assume the tall task of filling those massive shoes.
Finally, Tulane University's marching band is getting ready to perform for the first time in our brand new stadium. They have been preparing for several weeks now, and they've been doing so without the leadership of long-time assistant band director, Mark Lighthiser. Mark has left the band for a new life in Porland, Oregon. While we may not have always gotten along (the tensions of an instructor/student dynamic), I want to offer you my thanks for helping me improve as both a musician and as a person, and wish you all the best.
While there are many more people I wish I could mention, to do so would take too long, and I'd surely leave someone out, so I'll stop there. To all my friends and family back home, whether you've undergone significant changes in your life or not, I wish you all the best and can't wait to see you all again in a few months. You are all constantly in my thoughts.
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