I am in the leadership of my local church unit. I am one of the two counselors to the branch president. The branch president is like a pastor or a priest or bishop. Anyway, he is a very good friend of mine. I found out today that he is leaving the second week in October to take a job in Fort Worth, Texas. I am stunned. This is quite a shock. I mean, I knew he was looking but I had no idea he had found and accepted.
So many emotions to deal with right now. So many thoughts. This next month will be an adventure.
With Eric moving away, the branch presidency will be dissolved and a new one created. I am thrilled at the thought of being released from my position but am also curious as to who will be asked to be the new branch president and who his counselors will be. I don’t want to be in the new branch presidency but my ego really wants to be asked. What will happen with that occupies a lot of my thoughts.
We are a small unit and the loss of Eric and his family will be felt. I lose a friend and racquetball buddy. My kids will lose the strong, fun friendship they have with his kids. That is the saddest part. Eric’s kids are good kids and have been great friends with my kids. That friendship and companionship at home and church will be sorely missed by my youngest three children.
Eric’s wife, the reason he is moving, will not be missed.
Eric’s family arrived in Pierre shortly after we did and it wasn’t long before we became friends. Both families have lived all around the country and both families loved to complain about the shortcomings of our small town here. We both talked about wanting to leave and get back to civilization. Initially I wanted to leave before he did. Eric is very competitive and I wanted to beat him out of Pierre. Over time, though, I have grown to like many things about Pierre and except for a few drawbacks am quite happy here. Nevertheless, Eric’s leaving is a victory of sorts for him and a loss for me. He won that game and I am left behind. One of the things I did not like about Pierre is the lack of good kids, my kids ages to play with. Eric’s leaving will only make this problem worse.
Lastly, over the past few weeks Eric and I have had a few disagreements. Things were said. Changes made. But ultimately we had not reached resolution. With him leaving, we never will.
So here I sit, thinking about the changes to come. Hoping the good things will out way the bad things. Wondering if I am really supposed to stay here or go too. All the while knowing that once Eric and his family drive away, I most likely will never see or talk to them again.
