good-byes...or "see you soon"

today is our kids' last day of school for the school year here in maine, and as i told mia as she hopped on the bus- "next week is summer vacation!!"  we are leaving monday for our 30 hour airplane/airport trip traveling west to dallas, LA, auckland then christchurch.  we will "lose" one day and skip winter and spring!  the kids are saying goodbyes today to friends and teachers, and i am so moved by the support and well wishes from the community.   alex and i had a meeting with administration and some of his teachers at the high school yesterday and their flexibility with handling his finishing up the semester via satellite was refreshing.  Mia will be leaving her beloved central elementary this year and this ends 10 straight years i have had children there, the teachers and principal are magical.  kogen is having some friends over tonight to just hang out and be their goofy tween selves, i am glad he has such good friends.   i have seen friends by chance this week and been able to have normal conversations about our lives at this moment and receive hugs- a good combination!  i think six months away is more daunting for the kiddos and what they might be missing, relationships changing-i am only hoping they will return with open perspectives on  the world and themselves.