You Can Go Home Again

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:38:44 GMT

"Home is not where you live but where they understand you." ~Christian Morgenstern

I definitely feel like I have been "home".

No, I didn't visit with any blood relatives, but instead with perhaps, my oldest friend in the world. We met when we were 9 years old. That was 30 years ago. We laughed at how long we've known each other and how it really doesn't seem like it can really be 30 years. But it is. We couldn't believe it has been nearly 11 years since we last saw each other. But it has been. Fortunately for me, she and her family have come from their home in Pennsylvania to vacation at Litchfield Beach, SC, only about 2 hours from my home. I couldn't NOT go see her.

With someone you've known that long, there is a certain comfort level. She knows me. She knew me "before". Before everything. And even though we haven't seen each other for years, we picked right up. As if it were yesterday.

Yesterday when we were having a sleep over and playing UNO by flashlight under the covers after her mom had told us (several times) to go to sleep. Yesterday when we were in our church musical production (Moses and the Freedom Fanatics) where she was Moses and I was Miriam (Moses' sister) and we put baby powder in our hair to make ourselves look old. We performed a little mini-revival of the production right there on the spot. And we rocked it, thank you. I thought I'd never get that baby powder out of my hair.

We visited together with her parents and in-laws. We sat on the beach and watched our children play in the sand and surf together and marveled at how this could possibly be. We watched our husbands play bocce ball. We took lots of pictures and promised that it wouldn't be 11 more years before we saw each other again.

We talked about how we really are the same as we've always been. And we are.

I don't care what they say, you really can go home again.

My friend, Moye, and me. Two hot, almost 39 year olds. That's right.

Labor Day Ramblings

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:14:31 GMT

If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend. ~Doug Larson

--------------------

Labor Day. Not real sure why we celebrate it. (It's sad, I know) I know everyone is glad we DO, mostly because nearly everyone gets a day off because of it. But regardless of why we do, I'm glad. Gives people an excuse to have one last hurrah before summer is officially over. Myself included.

SIDEBAR: I'm suddenly reminded of the last scenes of "Dirty Dancing" where they are singing the "Kellerman's" song the last night of summer vacay at the resort (You know it, sing with me--and do the motions-- "join hearts and hands and voices, voices, hearts and hands. At Kellerman's the friendships last, long as the mountain stands") Crazy random flashbacks...they happen sometimes.

We had a rainy weekend, but a fun one. My bff Kristi and her family came for the long weekend. We have officially dubbed our screened porch the "party porch" where the grown ups hung out, had a couple of drinks and mostly cracked up. Even the "menfolk"! And Kristi's oldest son (he's 13 and he's in that I'm-too-cool-for-the-little-kids-but-not-quite-old-enough-to-really-hang-with-the-adults awkward phase)would join us for periods of time until he started getting TMI about when Kristi and I were kids ourselves! It was pretty funny. He's a great kid--love ya T, or should I say "Magic T". He's the next Mind Freak, mark my words! The younger boys and the girls were just running around inside playing. Having a blast. It's nice to be in the phase of life where you don't have to keep both eyeballs on the kids all the time and they can have a little fun on their own...just one eyeball seems to be enough. (Yes, we've become "those mothers"...the old lady soccer moms. Mothers of school-age children. YIKES.) We went to the beach in spite of the rain...not gonna let a little rain ruin our weekend. And mostly it seemed like we ate. A LOT. Oh, and we unpacked a few boxes. Thanks, girl!

I'd have to say we laughed a lot and had a lot of fun. I've heard it said that you can't have too much fun, but I'm rethinking that one...

Hope Sarah doesn't mind me poking a little fun at her. But she made it so easy! Notice the drool, if you can. She has plenty of time to hate her Aunt Jo later...for now, I just couldn't resist.

There isn't much better in life than getting to spend time with people you love and who love you and who wouldn't really care if they had to sleep on top of a few boxes in order to do so. I'm so lucky.

-----------------------

A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half-cracked. ~Author Unknown

Cartoon courtesy of Toothpaste for Dinner. Check them out!

Red Van Ramblings: Friends

You Can Go Home Again

Labor Day Ramblings