I, for some reason, haven't ever thought of us consciously as "ex-pats". Now I have had to say good-bye to one of my dearest friends. I am an ex-pat. Liz is one of the first people I met in Abu Dhabi. We met while Brad and I were here for the interview, before we even knew we were going to move here. Liz is one of those friends that I just know I will always have. No matter how much time passes, it's a friendship that will pick up where it left off. Liz has been on speed dial of my cell phone since the day we arrived. She always knew where to go to get anything and was totally "plugged-in" to the community here. She quickly became one of my dearest friends. We have connected on so many different levels and shared so many great experiences. Liz has a beautiful family and she is a beautiful person. Her heart is big as can be and she would do anything for anybody. Now it's time for her friends here in Abu Dhabi to share her with the people of Houston again. We have had many farewells. A few different parties in her and her family's honor but tonight was the final farewell.
Molly taught the regular Thursday night spin class on the beach and as we finished up Liz (who usually would have joined us) walked up with tears in her eyes. All the music for tonight's class was in honor of Liz..good-bye songs galore. As the sun finished setting (it was really too perfect) behind the Emirates Palace we said good-bye to Liz out on the beach...again inside and finally, in the entrance of the Hiltonia. She will really leave an empty space for all of her friends here in Abu Dhabi..but I know she has a big community of anxious friends waiting with open arms in Texas. She is on loan to them for now. But we all still have email and phone privileges..We may even have a rider-less bike at spinning for a while in her honor. We all love Liz and will never forget the fun we had with the entire McGuffee clan in AbuDhabi!!
