I'm becoming far to good at this.

Despite the chill in the prairie air the sun is blisteringly hot this morning.

I gently closed the passenger side door and lean down for one final face-to-face wave goodbye. To control the welling tears I let the saying, this is only a see you later wash over me.

For, I'll see my mom and sister again at Christmas. We're getting pretty good at this type of farewell.

One deep breath fills me. One, two, three steps forward. I face forward and one foot follows the other.

I momentarily forget my motor skills when I say my see you laters to those whom I love.

As I slowly stroll toward the station building for my first day on the job I'm reminded of a see you later I had not too long before this one.

With a backpack strapped around my shoulders I throw my arms up around his neck. He pulls me in. His arms tightly squeeze my lower back beneath my pack. I utter a breathy, 'Oh no,' and the tears quickly well, as they do right now.

I kiss him twice hoping that my lips will leave an imprint on his long enough to cover the weeks of my absence.

'Okay, okay I'm going,' I say.

He's such a good man. He's so strong and honest.

I turn before I enter the door to the airport security for one more wave. He has one hand in his pocket and the other one is sending me a gentle goodbye and he smiles. Once inside I sort out my belongings and load them onto the x-ray conveyor belt. I turn to see if he's still there. He is.

Through the security archway, there’s no beep. I reach for my bag and turn once more with the hope that I can smile and wave one last time.

He smiles right back and mouths as he points to his left, 'I'm gonna go now.' I laugh, nod and smile back.

I remind myself, one deep breath and one foot follows the other as I make my way to the gate.

See you later my love.