Letting go ...

It is not always easy to let go of people who have been important in the course of one's professional life  ... even if one is well aware that upon reaching their retirement age they will have to move into another direction ... possibly one that will provide them with the necessary recognition ... the family's recognition.

I must confess that amidst some genuine opinions it's quite hard to hear and digest appraisal comments some people make when farewell gatherings are organised because it is as if they feel forced to either say what they never said or even intended to.


The ones who are leaving have got nothing to lose by saying whatever they feel they should, though in Felizardo's case that was never a problem once he always said exactly what he had to say.


I'll have to get used to his absence as from this moment onwards ... and I must openly confess I 'll have to make an effort so as to adapt to the circumstance ...

Letting go of someone we could count on professionally speaking isn't easy ... even for the small group of colleagues who have been used to his weekly presence (not to mention the numerous oral interventions) in the English Language gatherings around lunch time ...

None of the discussions will be the same (without him), this being the reason as to why we decided to genuinely gather today (though not all of us could make it) in an extra English Language session and honour his presence ... 

I could talk about him for endless hours ... highlighting his personality traits ... his strenghts ... his carisma ... and the important role he has played in one's lives ... but I'd rather not ... until I get used to the idea of letting him go ...