Parting is such sweet sorrow...

As cliche as those words are, boy are they ever true right now...
I just had one of my goodbyes today. With Tyler, that guy I've been "seeing" for the past 3 weeks. He'd become a really cool friend; he's funny, easy to talk to (although it took me a while to get some decent conversation going), and very sweet. He brought out some traits in me I never thought possible before. He has definitely made these past few weeks VERY interesting!
I told myself before my blind date with him that I could just be his friend, nothing more. The distance would be too hard to manage for me, and usually before I date anyone I want to know them first. And... well, that's how I felt for a while. Throughout most of our dates, I just wanted to be his friend, no matter how cozy I got with him... =) Then, as my time here grew shorter, and as we got to know each other more, I felt myself getting more and more attached to him. By this time, he was already attached to me. I felt a little scared by this at first, because I really wasn't on the same level with him. But, I guess that changed a bit... quite a bit. I believe I developed a crush on him... in the end, a rather large one. I didn't want to say it, I didn't think it was possible... but with the way I'm feeling right now, I can't deny it.
We had a really fun day today; or at least, I can say I had a fun day today! He came over to my house this morning, then later we went hiking with his friend, Kevin; shared lots of laughs with them! Then we went back to Kevin's house and... sat there a while, talked, then watched The Pest. (Not sure what to think of that movie... very weird. I guess it's one of those "the more I watch it the funnier it gets" movies, kinda like Zoolander) Then he took me out to dinner (Mexican food... mmmm!), then we went back to my house, to say our last goodbyes... for over an hour. It seemed shorter, though...

"She took off her silver locket
she said, 'Remember me by this.'
She put her hand in my pocket
I got a keepsake and a kiss."

I remember those lines from Dire Straits' "Tunnel of Love" as I hold his necklace in my hands... and no, he didn't leave it here on accident, either. I don't need any material objects to remember him by, though. We've shared some extraordinary moments; in my terms, at least. *Sigh*... what interesting times these have been for me. He's stirred up so many emotions, it was one wild ride! Lots of happiness, laughter, fun, moments were he made it feel good to be me, and sometimes just a warm, relaxed, content feeling. There were a couple of negative emotions as well: uncertainty, confusion, guilt, and even a little bit of annoyance. But those were few, and I'm glad. Right now, though... a bittersweet feeling. I'm happy I saw him today, I'm happy that we shared some great moments again. I'm sad that I have to leave... I'm sad that this couldn't, possibly ever, develop into a deeper relationship. I knew that from the beginning... yet I found this last goodbye so much harder than I expected it to be...
Of course we'll always have email, we'll always have IM, he'll have this blog, and now I've got a new cell phone! (Yay for me!!) It won't be quite the same, of course, but we'll still get to be friends. And he is an AWESOME friend! Hardly anyone makes me laugh as much as he has, and if you can make me laugh, that's something really valuable in my book. And he was such gent, too... always opened doors, payed for EVERYTHING, was always honest with me, listened to me, talked with me... man, whoever marries him will be LUCKY! (Hee hee, Tajae, you get it?!) Mostly I'm grateful for him for the experiences he gave me. I've learned quite a few things, especially about myself. It's always good to do that. As he said to me, I never thought this much would spring up from a blind date. I'm missing him..
Man... I have a feeling this won't be the end of my sad feelings. I've got more friends to say goodbye to... thank goodness for all the communication breakthroughs (i can forgive technology for that purpose). It won't be the same, ever... but I'm not going to let my KIT skills die this time. YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME!!! =)

"And there's this burning, like there's always been...
I've never felt so alone, and I've never felt so alive."
~Third Eye Blind (Motorcycle Driveby)

(I like quotes, can you tell?!)