Farewell or Goodbye?

Is there a distinction between Farewell and Goodbye?

393 words

         I was going through write-ups I have done years back, culling for something I might be able to work on for my next submission. I was really looking for anything or something I wrote pertaining to family vacations and trips we used to take. As I was doing this, the title Farewell or Goodbye piqued my curiosity. I clicked it to find out what I wrote. Finding this was like serendipity. It was a short interaction between my husband and me one morning. It went this way:

         “Honey, I’ve been thinking all night. Do you think an atheist would say “Goodbye” to a loved one or a friend at parting time?” I said.

         “You mean parting as in dying or just a temporary, short separation such as going on a vacation? I haven’t thought about it. I have no idea. Why do you ask?” he responded.

         “Well, because “goodbye” means “God be with you,” I continued.

         “Oh, I see, maybe they’ll say “Farewell” instead. Look farewell up in the dictionary and see what the difference is,” he suggested.

         “I’m not interested in Farewell. All I want to know is if one who does not believe in God says, “God be with you.”

         In response, I found myself singing this line. “Farewell, farewell, Alma Mater dear, farewell, farewell, but not goodbye…”          

         “Oh, boy, I really got you going, didn’t I?” he commented.

         “Yeah, that was our High School graduation song. Maybe the songwriter was an atheist?”

         “Go ahead. Look it up. Never mind. I’ll look it up myself.”

         My husband went to the den, picked up the dictionary and flipped the pages.

         “Here it is: May you fare well is especially said at parting time especially when one goes on an extended length of time.  It is the conventional way of saying “Goodbye.”

         “Interesting. Sounds like there is no distinction between the two. Oops, I’m gonna be late for my appointment. See you in a little bit. ‘Bye, George.”

         ‘Aren’t you going to give me a kiss goodbye?”

         “Oh, you want one?”

         “Honey, I always do. One never knows what the minute brings when we are out of each other’s sight. You know what I mean when I say Goodbye. It means, God be with you.”

         “O.K. You got it. I’ll be back in a flash.”