On Departure

I often think that I have become too good

at leaving things behind

I have had a lot of practice

I got started at a young age

I used to be furious with my parents

for never making me stick with anything

I never had to take dance lessons

I got to quit the piano when i got tired of it

But I realized that what I have learned to do

routinely and without consideration

is pack my bags

and go away

Every two or four years of my early life

was spent departing old places

leaving my old friends and habits

and coming to new ones

I can rattle off a list of my old addresses

a litany of the names of old best friends

that I never bothered to wish to go back to

who wrote me letters I never answered

At this point it seems that leaving things behind

is one of my greatest skills

I have a high tolerance for bullshit

I am good at making new friends

I can exist comfortably in most environments

and easily eschew my own desires

when faced with things that I would not choose

but do not get to have any say in.

Which is not to say that I often willing to go out without a fight

but once my lot has been made clear

I have learned it is better to adapt

than waste my energy complaining

And maybe now I am grateful to be so well adjusted to change

Some people are accomplished musicians

or amazing dancers

and I am an expert in getting over it

But maybe now I am tired of instability

and ready to settle down

I could teach a master class

about moving on and forgetting

I could put my bags away

and make something I want to remember