By Lawrence Shore
Don’t cry, at least not yet. Before they leave, send your friend off the right way with a proper celebration. You’ll need to do something that commemorates the time you’ve spent with each other. Check out these suggestions on how to celebrate your friends before they move away.
One Last Party
It only makes sense to send them off with one last HOORAH! Throw a going away party to remind them of all the good times you’ve had together, all the people who will miss them, and how excited you are for their new adventure. Invite all their favorite people and at one point in the night get the guest of honor ready for speeches.
You can’t have a going away party without speeches. Make sure you have plenty of tissues close by because tears will start to fall. If you want to make it more festive beyond the standard farewell send-off, think about what they are most passionate about and center a theme around that.
Hometown Gifts
Remind them of where they came from so that they always know where they’re going. Gift them with the perfect hometown present so that they leave with immense pride. Make the gift extra festive and add all the things you both loved doing together.
Don’t hold back with this gift. Make it as sentimental as possible because life will get in the way. You’ll make plans to see each other soon and talk often, but during those times when you both get busy, they can look at that wonderful and thoughtful gift you gave them.
A Memorable Quilt
Everyone loves a good blanket. It’s one of those small luxuries that people always cherish, like a soft hotel towel. You can’t go wrong with giving them a memorable quilt. The great thing about a quilt is how different you can make it.
Each square on the quilt can represent a different memory. There might be times when they miss home and feel a little down. The quilt will act as a comfort and wrap them up.
A Picture’s Worth 1,000 Words
You’ve heard the saying before. A picture’s worth a thousand words. Take a step further and give them a present that says 1,001. Yes, you can give them a picture in a nice frame, but what if you made a scrapbook instead?
Make a scrapbook and put everything you can think of in there. Fill it up with pictures, quotes, stories, and funny one-liners. Your friend moving away does not have to be a depressing situation. Make the affair joyous and memorable in a positive way.
Any one of these options will properly celebrate your friend before they move away and hopefully tide them over until you see each other again.
