Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 10.07.2008 (Article Archived on 24.07.2008)

This will be my last “News From The Grotto” for a while since I am going out on vacation on this week’s plane.

This will be my last “News From The Grotto” for a while since I am going out on vacation on this week’s plane.  Although I am looking forward to my leave, as always, I leave Ascension with mixed feelings.  I have not seen my family and friends for a year so of course I can’t wait to see them.  And like most, although I love my job, I’m also looking forward to a break from it, and being lazy for a while!  I always seem to find a number of fix-up jobs to do around my home when I’m there in the summer, so lazy might not be the most accurate term to use, but you know what they say about a change being as good as a rest.

When I leave, I will be saying good-bye to some good friends, who will have moved on before my return.  I’ve said it many times:  one of the only bad things about living on Ascension is that we always seem to be saying good-bye to people that have come to mean so much to us.  It is an unfortunate part of living in a location in which the population is so transient. 

Even though we miss these friends, everyone we have met adds to the richness of our lives.  I think that those of us that have the opportunity to live in a place like Ascension, or other remote locations, have a life full of experiences that many in this world never do.  We get to meet people from different backgrounds, with interest and varying life experiences.  What we can learn in an environment like this is a gift that few get to receive.  I know that the friendships I have developed, those people still here, and those who have moved on, have enriched my life beyond measure.  Some I am still in touch with, some I’m sure I will never see again, but all have added to my life experiences.

Knowing people from so many different backgrounds should make all of us more tolerant.  So much of the world’s problems are caused by narrow-mindedness and lack of knowledge, and acceptance of beliefs and ways that might differ from ours.  If only everyone could see more of the world, it might end some of the problems caused by distrust, intolerance and fear of those unlike ourselves.

So no matter how difficult it is to eventually say good-bye, we should remain open to the rich gifts that developing friendships, no matter how brief, bring as we travel through this life that God has given us.  As is said so often, but rings so true, we only have one chance to go round in this world; let’s make the most of it.  Open your heart to the good experiences that friendships will bring, and when the time for parting comes, smiles will accompany the tears, and it will all have been worthwhile.

To Winnie and Steve, and your children Chloe and Simon, and Sarah and your children Ellen (my longtime Brownie friend), Simon and Johnny, thanks for being a part of my life.  To others who have left recently: Rob, Latasha, Dwight, Stacey, and too many others, farewell.  You will always special to me.  May you have great experiences in the future.  May you meet lots of people to enrich your lives, and may memories of your time on Ascension always bring a smile to your faces.  Thanks for being my dear friends.

May God bless you all.