I miss "goodbye." With great clarity, it signaled that two or more people were parting ways. It has fallen largely out of favor, replaced by "later" or "seeya," greetings that promise that things aren't yet over. Conversations sent via electronic channels also defy conclusion; the texts and comments will continue piling up whether you acknowledge them or not. The last holdouts are reality TV shows, where "pack your knives and go" or "you're fired" still impart a welcome sense of finality. But even here, the dismissals are just words, and the stars will be back for a reunion special, another season, or their own spin-off.

The loss of goodbye from our day-to-day conversations is symptomatic of something larger. Things - whether adolescence, the work day or conversations - just don't really end anymore. Santa Clarita has not been immune to the trend.

The Eternal Ones
Santa Clarita has been a city for 22 years, and both Laurene Weste and Frank Ferry have been in charge for 12 of them. In April, they and Marsha McLean were re-elected to serve four more years. Despite over a decade of service (eight years, in Marsha's case) none were ready to bid their seat farewell. This made sound economic sense for the city, which was spared the expense of ordering new name plaques and business cards.

Things almost went much differently. The gap between third and fourth place - between a seat and no seat - was the slightest possible. Challenger David Gauny finished just 33 votes away from unseating Frank Ferry. The results were so close that it wasn't for more than a week after election day that the counting and verifying concluded and we knew the winner.

On April 20, all were sworn in. Mayor Laurene Weste said that she hopes to develop community gardens and to continue preserving open space. Mayor Pro-Tem Marsha McLean is looking forward to working on transportation-related issues, and Council Member Frank Ferry mentioned that he would like to hasten clean-up and development of the Whitaker Bermite site. That's the big, hilly spot in the center of town made toxic by weapons testing. We are as yet unable to say goodbye to its pollution.

Ceremoniously Dismissed
Despite everyone's insistence that graduation marks a beginning, it represents a most satisfying ending for most students. But budget cuts are keeping these students from saying goodbye to middle school; eighth-grade promotion ceremonies were cancelled at Hart District schools. Gloria Mercado-Fortine, a member of the governing board, said in a KCAL-9 interview, "We have a $15.5 million-dollar deficit going into next year. Obviously, there has [sic] to be some cuts." Some parents were delighted by the move, but others were outraged, saying they should have been consulted first and that saving a mere $40,000 didn't justify canceling ceremonies. Facebook allowed parents to band together, and there will be a parent-sponsored, multi-junior high graduation held on June 4.

I can understand arguments on both sides. Academically, passing junior high school isn't terribly meaningful. It's still four more years until one can get a diploma that opens the door to jobs or college. However, surviving the cliques, gossip, hormonally-driven awkwardness and downright nastiness endemic to the junior high school social arena is a real achievement. In any case, the independent event will take place and no parent who wants to see their child walk will be denied the opportunity.

Campy Fun
Vast tent cities aren't just for political refugees anymore. On June 26, Central Park will be filled with tents and tarps as families forsake their spacious homes for cramped, nylon quarters. The City of Santa Clarita's "Great American Camp Out!" (exclamation point mandatory) invites Claritans to "pop a tent and enjoy a summer night under the stars." Cheeky! Apart from camping, there will be games, a potluck dinner, campfire with s'mores, astronomy and breakfast the next morning. Despite the fact that this is the city's first year putting on the Great American Camp Out!, news spread fast and the $15 tickets are already sold out. Contact information is still on the city's website, though, and perhaps some families will return tickets as plans change.

Why does the opportunity for overnight camping in a park seem like such a hit? In a valley where nothing else seems to end, parents are still well aware that childhood passes quickly. There are only so many opportunities to pull kids away from video games, the Internet and other time drains of youth for a bit of family bonding. And late June isn't a bad time for it. The long, lazy summer evenings are a reminder that there are some things about life in Santa Clarita we heart and don't mind hanging on to.
This column is intended as satire and a (sometimes successful) attempt at humor. Suggestions, catty comments and veiled threats intended for the author can be e-mailed to iheartscv@insidescv.com.