the necessity of friendship

Its a rare quiet moment...usually by this time in the evening, we are catching up on "24" or "Lost" or contending with Sawyers last surge of energy in the day or visiting with friends.... this evening has unfolded a bit differently...Shawn is winding down with some Halo 2 and Sawyer has triumpantly taken over his office chair...and I am sitting up on our bed in silence.

The deafening quality of silence never ceases to amaze me. I welcome the quietness in the morning and yet by the end of the day I find that I am antsy in it.

I haven't been writing much over the past couple weeks...(hope anyone is still reading!)..had a house guest and Engage the Journey launched and between those things I have myself 'mentally distracted'...do you know that feeling? Like, if you could just slow down enough to process, you would, if you could only stay awake?

AJ flew in to Seattle the afternoon of the 5th and I was so excited, I could barely stand it. I put the finishing touches on my house cleaning and got Sawyer outfitted in his harness and leash (which is more of a job that one might imagine). We drove through the rain to the airport, parked the car in great anticipation, and went down to baggage claim. "Kansas City...Southwest...ahh...Claim 11, " I said as I scanned the information board while Sawyer tugged on his leash. Ten minutes later, I revisited the board which was still claiming that Aj's flight was "in range". I sighed. Sawyer was wearing me down. I started to question my choice to bring him...little kids and kids at heart were drawn to him and I found myself praying that he wouldn't nip at any of them..especially the first group. After saying at least twenty times "be careful, he's just a puppy...he's still learning not to jump", I decided it was time for a walk. Where to? Coffee, of course. My 16 ounce soy chai experience ate up just enough time so that as we rounded the corner to claim 11, Aj was in clear view. 30 minutes late and a little on the air-sick side, but in Seattle and smiling.

There's something glorious about spending time with someone who shared your childhood. Aj and I grew up about 3 miles from each other and our moms are sisters. Most of the memories I have of being little, involve AJ and just for the record, he was the hero of those memories. You see, AJ is the middle boy of 3 and for a long time, I had only a brother. SO, you can imagine how much those four boys wanted to have me around...yeah...but AJ was always my Savior...the one would let me bring a doll into the tree fort...the one who didn't think I should have to do daring feats just to be allowed to play...the one who literally untied me from the side of the truck when the other boys had hog tied me there (I think I had blocked that one out until he reminded me! *grin*)

These are the ties that bind, friends!

What a sweet joy it was to share coffee and conversations and memories and sight-seeing that I would never do without a visitor...what a joy it is to know someone...to speak and be understood...to hear and to know...to share a history... that's the real beauty- the sharing.

This has been a week of re-connecting and it has watered my soul. AJ and I drove to Portland and connected with an old friend, Chirs, who moved to Oregon from Ohio this past October. I hadn't seen him in years, AJ hadn't seen him since we all started college and that's been awhile. We went to church where Donald Miller attends (and no, we didn't see him) and then we ate some great veggie thai at some awesome hole in the wall kind of place and then we visited for a long while at Chris' apartment. AJ, Chris, Sarah (Chris' beautiful girlfriend) and I talked about life and music and troubled kids, and watched on amused as their cat, Jameson hissed and growled, at my playful Sawyer, who wasted no time in attacking the cat's toys. It was the kind of night that left me warmed at heart, even if it was the 20-something day in row that it was pouring in Seattle. I drove the 3 hour trek home in silence...AJ slept in the passenger seat with Sawyer curled up next to him. It was completely silent in the car, except for the sounds of their breathing and the rhythmic squishing of the wind shield wipers. My mind felt full but not overwhelmed...my spirit alive but content...I felt a real moment of happiness.

AJ left on 12th many days too early for us all (even Sawyer!) with his new Seattle experience under his belt complete with view of Mt Rainier, sushi, and market experience.

I am smiling at those memories. You would love AJ if you met him.

The day AJ left, I got a phone call from a college friend of my mom's. Beth is a Delta flight attendant...as much flying as I do, I have always hoped she would be working one of my flights (hasn't happened yet)...but she called to say she had a lay-over in seattle this past Friday. I picked her up at the Renassiance hotel and we mused over how a bankrupt comany could afford to put its employees up in such a place as we drove to a local coffee shop. Beth is one of those people, whose face just makes you smile. She is freckly and her eyes sparkle even when she is crying and her smile is contagious. Almost four hours had gone by as we sat and sipped on our drinks....she shared with me her experiences and the things she has learned over 20+ years of marriage. Tears effortless slipped from the corners of her eyes as she spoke of her husbands tenderness and how far God has brough them. My ears were wide open and she poured out wisdom. God spoke to me while she shared. In fact, he did more than speak, He unveiled. It was as if her speaking pulled back the thin veil of what is going on in my life and let me see more clearly....that's the nice way of saying it was like getting hit with a 2x4.

Sometimes you need hit with a 2x4 though, right? Okay, maybe not you, but me...well, I do.

I have been HORRIBLE about community the last little bit of my life...I was never stellar at it to begin with and then I started traveling and it was a full time excuse to enjoy a little distance and isolation. I am transitioning out of that phase in my life (thank God) and my excuse is no longer valid. Its funny how delightful and yet scary people can be...

..i am thankful this week God reminded me of the beautiful necessity of community...I guess that's the moral of these musings. Hope this finds you enjoying the ones you love!