Nothing endures but change. (Heraclitus)

Yes, it's my birthday. But the gods decided that it is apparently not enough change for me.

...My newest friend (from the last musical I was in), Betsy, has moved to Scotland. As much as I love all of my friends very much, I don't usually have so much in common with them, unlike Betsy. Betsy and I were both self-critical vocalists, musical theatre aficionados, planners and leaders. Perhaps it was the experience of analyzing rehearsal videos for performance improvement, knowing song lyrics and plots of so many musicals, or introducing each other to new activities. Betsy (and Debbi) organized my first "real" trip to New York City. Who else would see Friday evening, Saturday matinee, Saturday evening AND Sunday matinee broadway performances in one weekend? I cannot even get half of my friends to see one performance in a weekend. I introduced Betsy to karaoke. I might have even gotten her addicted. It was nice to be able to sing Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado's duet, "Quando, Quando. Quando." I enjoy being able to sing in harmony with someone (even if they're doing most of the work). And, how convenient, she lived less than five blocks away! And when you live in the suburbs, having a kindred spirit live so close is a treat. The last night we sang karaoke together at Freddies Beach Bar, I signed up for James Taylor's "You've got a friend." Truly, I just wanted to sing something I had not sung in a long time. But, I barely made it to the chorus before I was weeping on stage. How pathetic. I had no idea I was going to get emotional (the entire evening). But, on a lighter note, I look forward to a trip to Scotland sometime in a year or two.

...One of my coworkers, one of those special ones who make going to work more delightful, is leaving for a new job. She is kind and thoughtful and full of positive energy. I will miss her. No more daily visits in her office, no more quick lunches out. But, more importantly, no more misery for her in her position here. I'm down to one bosom buddy at work. And if she leaves, I just might have to follow them both.

...My weeknight karaoke jockey (KJ), Rob, is leaving for Philadelphia to live with his boyfriend. It is odd that I can feel a connection with someone I don't really know. Our telephone conversations were never personal, mostly business, him asking me to take over karaoke hosting for a night. We never dined together, never went out on a weekend together, or bar-hopping. Our entire connection seems to be based on my weekly experience of him hosting karaoke at Freddies. "Hello, how are you? How was your weekend? Do anything interesting? New song?" Perhaps it is his positive energy or my dependence on routine. Either way, I will miss him. And how do you say goodbye to someone you probably won't talk to again, unless by chance? I am not saying I do not want to communicate with him and would not appreciate continuous emails, voicemails, myspace messages... But I don't expect it since there is no real precedent on which to base it.

Now how is it possible that my coworker's last day AND Rob's karaoke farewell party AND my birthday are all TODAY?
The gods are unkind.