10 Funny ways to say "Goodbye" without using the word

 "Never say goodbye, never say goodbye,You and me and our best friends

hoping it would never end. Never say goodbye""

The rest of that song by Bon Jovi has some beautiful lyrics. They remind me of my younger days when we all thought that life would always be the same. We'd had this bond of friendship -- so strong -- we'd had so much fun for so long, how could it ever change ?

None of us ever did use the word 'goodbye' even when we had to bury one of our close-knit group of friends. I think, that particular loss was too painful to say anything. We were so young.

         We grew older, got married, or moved to a different country or both. I still don't remember any of us using the "G" word. Lots of tears, yes. tears mixed with laughter and sarcasm about eachothers destinations.

"You'll never make it in Holland , Sue.! Who are you trying to kid? They have legal cafes where people smoke 'dope' . You'll end up living in one of them. Ha Ha!. You'll be s.o.r.r.y

Actually Sue met a very nice dutchman and got married. She went on to enjoy living in Holland As far as we can tell she never was lured to any of the 'pot-house cafes' we'd heard so much about...

               Some of the most difficult 'goodbyes' are when the 'bye' is to a lover or a child. One of the most painful for me (yet now we laugh as a family about it)was when my granddaughter was about 4 or 5 years old. I had lived almost 3000 miles away from her since she was a baby, so this was nothing new for her. She was used to being held up high in daddy's arms waving to me and looking forward to next time.  This time, for some reason she burst into tears, really sobbing,just as I was about to go through to the boarding lounge, with my usual cheery , see you again soon. (while in my head plays the tune 'never say goodbye' so that I don't cry)

                       My son, tried to understand what she was saying through the sobbing..."nanny is going,...but.....but ....where's the aeroplane?".. Oh! the poor little love. This was a different airport from our usual one. Normally my sweet, little granddaughter can look through those enormous glass windows. She'd see planes on the tarmac, planes taking off, planes coming in to land, but this time all she could see was a long corridor that I had to walk along seemingly going nowhere.. She may have thought I was about to be abducted by aliens but whatever she was thinking she definately thought that I was about to walk down an endless corrodor with no airoplane in sight ,....therefore Nanny was about to get lost. Poor love! (since I am notoriously bad at having any sense of direction , my son looked slightly concerned too.) It was hard to leave her crying.

                                  When a love affair or a marriage goes wrong it's almost impossible to say what the best type of 'googbye' is, because we're all different and the number of reasons for break--ups is  multitudinous.. If you can manage it I'd reccommend      "Be happy"... but only the couple involved really know what's best to say if anything.

As for "goodbyes" in general. I have found the following helpful.

1. I wish you well. Be Happy. 

2 Take care. Love you.

3. Silent hugs and/or kisses. (some men can only manage a pat on the back version of this one, especially if they're British)

4. It's been wonderful. I'll laugh about our times together forever.

5. You are the BEST. (wave with a smile)

6. Keep up the good work. You're doing a great job...See ya !

7. THank you  (for the good times) Au revoir..

8.Ta ta !. Cheerio !. Pip Pip ! (totally only for Brits over 50)

9.(My dad's favourite)  Keep your head down !

10. (my brothers' favourite to me anyway)As he carries my case the complete length of the railway platform and opens a carriage door for me, with me protesting I can manage, you don't have to come all the way to the door....." I have to make sure you are gone. Off you go!"

      He loves me really , I know, because he keeps inviting me back. It's just that weird sense of humour of his.

I hate 'goodbyes'. Living on an island I've had to get used to so many of them. Old friends, family, visit us for holidays and vacations,  .When I go back 'home' to the old country there are all those goodbyes again .I can't do it. I have to focus on the next visit. I have to look ahead.

                         I'm continually looking for cheery new ways to say the  "G" word without using the actual word. It seems so final, as if the word  conveys to my mind "I'll never see you again".So if you ever feel as silly as I do about using the "G" word, try one of my top ten favourites.

                            Happy days...............