There is nothing easy about packing up your whole life, saying goodbye, and moving to a new location. However, we rarely talk about the other side of it….The getting left behind part. Sometimes, very rarely, moves are synced up with our friends, and being left behind is not an issue, however, in my experience, it rarely happens.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, as spouses we are used to getting left behind when our spouse deploys or TDY,  but we have an end date in sight and know when they will be back. Unfortunately, when our friends PCS, the reality is we don’t know if we will ever be stationed in the same place again.

When you are left behind there is a big VOID, life is the same…yet so different…

• The house they used to live in and where you would hang out at and is now occupied by complete strangers.
• Your daily workout buddy is gone.
• The friends you would see and hangout with daily are no longer there within a minutes notice.
• Your go to for emergencies or help is now across the country.
• Your kids miss the friends they used to play with all of the time.

You miss them so much it is so hard to get used to life without them there. Time, like with anything, heals and it does get better, but it’ll never be the same…that chapter of your life is closed.

As I sit here writing, I realize this will be my reality this summer as many of my besties are PCS-ing and it downright stinks! But as I say…”It’s never goodbye, just see you later!”

Have you ever been the one to be left behind? How did it make you feel?

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