Growing up,
we never said
goodbye.
My parents
always said
“be careful.”
They also
never said
"I love you."
It used to
bother me,
until I realized
“be careful”
meant
“I love you and
I don’t want anything
bad to happen
to you,
so be safe and
come back and
see me again,
sit with me,
talk with me,
laugh with me.
Just come back
because I love you.”
So,
I’m not good
at goodbyes.
Be careful.
"Goodbye" does have that weight of finality to it. We are a family that speaks "I love you" but, as you've written, it can mean just as much when read between the lines. This touched my heart.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this...it explains a lot about those people who say this. It's not something we did so i always thought it odd to hear "be careful" as a goodbye phrase.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am not good at goodbyes either. I always say be careful.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma always said "Be sweet" instead of goodbye. I miss it.
ReplyDelete