Posted on

Safe journeys

Safe journeys Safe journeys

I dislike the word goodbye.

It is not that I have any problem with the etymology of the word as a 16th century contraction of “God be with you.” I would hope that God was walking with each of us, especially in our times of need and when we are apart.

For me, the issue I have with the word is its sense of finality. Much like the period that marks the end of this sentence, the word “goodbye” punctuates the ending of a relationship even if it is so brief a one as a conversation or one that spans decades in length.

As the gray hair in my beard consumes an ever increasing amount of my face, I am finding myself saying goodbye much more often than in the past.

In some cases, this goodbye is coupled with “good luck” as people with whom I have worked with enter a new chapter of their life in retirement. Other times, the goodbye is sorrowful, bringing with it tears of loss. Perhaps the most heartbreaking are the times when the goodbye was never said and the loss lingers as a gaping wound much like a giant pothole that can be carefully detoured around but never truly seems to get filled in.

On Monday night, the Medford Area Senior High School choral program held its annual spring concert. It is a time to celebrate the hard work done by the student performers over the past year and a time to say goodbye to the seniors who will be graduating in a few weeks’ time.

There was a special poignancy to this week’s concert as it was the last one under the direction of longtime choral music teacher Cassandra Jablonsky.

Jablonsky has worked to build the vocal music program over her tenure and has succeeded in making it something truly special.

I have had the pleasure of seeing her work her magic with the students, both as an audience member and as a parent. My daughter, Elizabeth, learned from her and my son, Alex, is currently a student. Even before becoming her student, Elizabeth has fond memories of “Mrs. J” leading the youth choir program at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and of challenging the singers to different musical traditions. I look forward to Jablonsky continuing to share her many talents in the community for years to come.

With concerns over a forecast of potentially severe weather, Monday’s program was streamlined, but its closing was just as bittersweet even without an elaborate goodbye to someone who has done so much for the Medford Area Senior High School choral music program. Jablonsky’s hard work and dedication will live on for decades to come in the lessons she taught to all of her students.

On a more personal note, this week I am finding myself saying goodbye to longtime coworker Sarah Komarek. With last year’s retirement of Donald Watson, Sarah had taken over the mantle of the employee with the most seniority. Star News owner Carol O’Leary, who is in a class by herself with more than 50 years in newspapers, has us all beat.

Since, I don’t believe she has aged since the day I started here more than a quarter century ago, either Sarah has some secret that she is not sharing with the rest of us or was hired to work at The Star News out of elementary school.

Sarah has been a constant at The Star News and for many years was one of the first people I would see each morning as I stumbled bleary-eyed into the office and past her desk on the way to mine.

I have always been impressed by Sarah’s professionalism and skill with graphic design. That talent is reflected, not only in the awards and recognitions she has earned over the years, but in the subtle touches and guidance she gives in the office, being unafraid to say when something on a page doesn’t work and needs to be tweaked.

Sarah has been an anchor at The Star News. While I wish her great success in her future and new adventures and am slightly envious, I am sad to say goodbye to her.

Goodbyes can be casual or even flippant, but many more times they bring with them buckets of emotion.

Brian Wilson is News Editor at The Star News.


Brian Wilson
LATEST NEWS