This weekend we did the things we always do. We spent our days exploring the changing beach, and we had friends over to eat on the porch and to make use of the fire pit. It was ordinary in the best ways possible, but felt special just the same. My dear friend Chantal, the most sentimental person I know, was visiting from Switzerland, where she leads a fancy, fancy, life working for the Olympics. And the ordinariness of it made her a bit homesick. She cried her tears of happiness and impending sadness immediately upon her arrival, and like a good friend, I took a picture. For living so far away, I'm amazed how often I get to see her. And while I certainly wish I got to see her more, the upshot of her living in Switzerland is chocolate. Amazing chocolate.
I don't know how I have managed to get my friends to come down to Southern Maryland so often to drink beers in my back yard. They drive from DC and Baltimore and across the Bay, and I am so grateful that they do.
I'm so glad to have them come hula hop with my kids and to join in on Sena's mandatory dance parties. Like I said, it's what we always do. It's our ordinary. But I love our ordinary, and I am really glad I have a group of people who live these days with me.
This weekend also involved plenty of sandy raisins and bridge building and the second best round of tag the kids have ever played. And it ended with my family sitting around the dinner table talking about all the important stuff. I went to bed last night feeling a whole lot of things and grateful for all of it.
Maybe next weekend will include something just a little outside of usual. Or maybe it won't. Either way, I'll do my best to make it special. But I might spare you the pictures.
Oh man, I can feel so much emotion in the photo of our friend. Having friends so far away is so hard but also the best sometimes. It makes those time when we are together unlike anything else. So glad you guys had an amazing, ordinary weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy having friends that far away if I had the money to visit them and take advantage of their couches and insider info. As it is, Switzerland remains out of budget.
Deletenever spare the photos! they are each so wonderful. i like your friends. they look wonderful; what a community you've built! with your rad kids right in the midst of it all. this is truly what weekends are all about.
ReplyDeleteI love that my friends have become such great friends to my kids. they have some awesome connections.
DeleteWhat a sweet friend you have - I get emotionally over random moments of nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteshe is the sweetest.
DeleteIf you thought this was emotional, you should have seen me at the airport. Nothing is worse than walking around by yourself all teary and sniffly. Thanks for hosting this get together..it is now a must-do for future visits and I will make sure to always have chocolate in my purse.
ReplyDeleteOh Chanty, you're the best. I like these must-dos.
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