[The Flayed One]

So, today (in a few hours) I board a plane to the heartland of America. Also known as the midwest, my state of destination is Indiana.

It's my little sisters (my only sibling) graduation from high school. We are full brother and sister, 12 years apart in age. It's important to her and myself, because our parents did not graduate high school. We're two of the few in our families that did.

This is also the end of an era for me. This will be the last time I visit Indiana for anything other than an extremely special occasion. It's part of my life that I'm done with. No more holidays, birthdays, etc. The only funerals I will fly back for will be my parents or my sisters. Weddings, baby showers and other stupid shit are right out.

I'm not a huge family person, although I do love the majority of them dearly. I just have little connection with the majority of them, and I hate the midwest. I'm not black balling or disowning any of them. We still talk over the phone or through email, and that's good enough for me. I just don't see the point in taking time off of work and spending hundreds upon hundreds of dollars to go to a family get together. Maybe I'll change my tune in ten years, but for now that's where I stand, and it feels liberating.

Have any of you had to make the same final flight? How do you guys feel about making the decision to sever the old ties so you can get on with your own life?