We’re moving out of the neighborhood. After 20 years on 34th St., across from the Empire State Building, Guideposts is moving its editorial offices downtown to 110 William St.
Moving is exciting. Change is good. But I feel a little like a refugee saying goodbye to all the old familiar places before I’m going to be shipped out. Somehow, a neighborhood where you’ve worked, run, eaten many lunches (hurried or otherwise), dashed in and dashed out, talked to friends and said many prayers feels like hallowed ground.
The other day I made a quick farewell tour, said goodbye to the staff where I usually get my lunch. “I’ll be back sometime,” I said. “Thanks for all the good food. And thanks for the great service.” Gratitude is one of those things that leavens any farewell. “You’ve been good friends.”
I dropped by to see Jacob the barber and told him, while he was cutting my hair, “We’re moving out of the neighborhood. We’re packing things right now. We’ll be gone by the end of the month.”
“So soon?” he said. “I’ve cut your hair for 15 years. I will miss you.”
“I will miss you too, Jacob. Maybe I can try to come back once a month to get a quick cut…” See, I hate to say goodbye.
The last person I said goodbye to was my friend Kenny. I’ve mentioned him before. He sits outside of Duane Reade, the pharmacy, usually on an old milk carton. He’s always impeccably dressed and over the years, we’ve said a few prayers for each other. I asked him if I could take a photo of the two of us. “Sure,” he said. We nabbed a passing tourist, I printed the photo back at the office and then I returned to Kenny with some gifts: a Bible, a signed copy of my book 10 Prayers You Can’t Live Without, the photo of the two of us, all in a knapsack I found in my office.
“Rick,” he exclaimed with his usual enthusiasm. “How did you know I needed a new bag? This is great. An answer to prayer.” He looked inside, admired the Bible, the book and especially the photo. “Rick,” he said, “I love you, man. I love you.” And then we hugged goodbye.
See what I mean about hallowed ground?
