Like Cousins

A couple weeks ago we visited with Kate - who firstly I work with. And then she started a blog, and I thought it was so interesting. First we submitted some content to her blog, but now as it works out we are fellow bloggers together. She lives pretty far away (Park City, UT), and we don't see each other very often, despite invitations to visit etc. But we collaborate on a few work projects, and periodically communicate through our blogs, such as these...
Butterfly photo
Sunflowers
Zinnias
Gardening

So spending a little time was so nice...just whiling away part of an afternoon (OK, I should have been working, but so what?), chatting about the garden, hearing about her garden (the BIG ROCK among other things). I don't know, but to me it kind of felt like when you get together with your favorite cousin. You may not see each other very often, and maybe they live far away, but you easily catch up once you can get together, and it is something that you look forward to.

I had a smile on my face (and a nice little warm feeling in my heart) for that whole day.

Here we are by the clematis...

Army & Naval ROTC-Good Better Best

GOOD
- Meeting and making a life-long friend or two from service time in the military.

BETTER
- Staying in touch, though only periodically, when one friend or the other is traveling through.

BEST
- Having the friend's daughter study close by at the U of M (ROTC of course, but NAVAL ROTC, not Army!), so that we can connect more often!!

We had a nice leisurely visit, then pizza together.

Friends...

Got together last week for a long overdue gathering with 2 college friends. I cannot believe how the years have flown by!! M I've known since oh I think Girl Scouts 3rd grade or something, through high school, and college. C was M's freshman year roommate, and what a great match they were and are for each other!! In college we had bowling nicknames (Pickles, Bubbles, Spike, etc.) I can't remember what my name was!! Remember punk parties??


Through the years we went on kind of different paths. M & C both got married and had children relatively quickly, while I was later on this timing...Many things happened that altered how often we got together, how available we were, and resources that we had. But we've always been friends...

Now they talk about grown kids, an utterly delightful daughter in a special home situation, one child in college, 2 others going to college soon. And my youngest is in 1st grade!! I hope that I can be as good of a parent, role model, and provider, as they have been for their children.

So here we are...we don't look a day (or hardly a decade) over 30!! At least most days I feel about that age...

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.”
Elisabeth Foley

st. olaf college