Visiting with Former Coworkers

Last September I wrote on the Appalachian Trail blog that you don't relaize how much you are a part of a community until you leave it. We have spent the last five days in Lansing, MI and it has emphasized this point for me.

Last night my former coworkers from the job I left 15 months ago held a gathering for me. Lots of people and food and chit chat. It was lovely. Familiar people that I spent so much time with during my years here. Time that I enjoyed a lot. I don't miss the work, but I do miss the people.

Thank you Karen for hosting the event. Thank you Kathryn for housing us for two nights. Thank you to all the people who came last night to see me again and listen to my stories and catch up on our lives. Since leaving Lansing, I have been moving around and living in temporary quarters. Visiting the people with whom I spent so many years was comfortable and familiar and reassuring. I don't miss the place, but again, I do miss the people.