Friend time

My friend, Laura sent me a message, wondering if I would be free on the following Tuesday evening. She lives in Edmonton now, but she and her family were out staying with her parents here for a few days. I spent lots of time at her parents house, years ago. Laura did a Rotary Exchange abroad like I did, but she spent her year in France, the year ahead of me, so she was away for our grade 12 year, while I was away after graduation. Her dad was also involved in the youth exchanges, so they had my family for dinner in the time after Laura returned from her exchange, and before I left on mine. Laura was a friend from school, so I was over there a lot. She and I also rented a suite together for a short time during college. When she was just here, I was excited to see her again as it has been a few years. I went on the familiar drive to her parents and they had a cozy dinner of two other school friends, the dad of one and the husband of the other also joined the occasion. We all enjoyed lots of food around the table, and laughed a lot. I really loved the evening because it was cool that we all were so familiar with her parents and their home that we could all gather and talk like we did. It’s not every day that one is invited to a friends parent’s house – now that we are 40. Kids were running around, banter went back and forth and far too much cheesecake and whipped cream was consumed.

Sometimes, gatherings can make me nervous as I am definitely an introvert, albeit an extroverted-introvert 😅, and when I go and take part, I am so glad after that I did. It’s been a few years since I saw Laura, we were trying to even recall when it was! But as always, catch up and conversations flow easily and it really makes me value the times friends show up for each other. She also put the effort in to host an evening, during their very short, packed visit, to gather her long time friends together, and put this meal together with her parents. The last time she was out, we didn’t get together for a coffee date or ‘event’ but she showed up at my work just to make sure she could say hi and see me in person. It means a lot when someone puts in the effort. They really make sure that connections last and that friendships don’t fall off.

I am fortunate to have some very close friends, with whom, I have made some great memories this summer. Butchart Garden’s visit with one, dinner with another close friend who moved away earlier this year but was back visiting. And with some newer friends, a dinner of the 4 of us that do the same job for our company on the ‘island’ (Vancouver Island).

We’ve also had a pub lunch for my mom’s birthday, a family dinner when my sister and her family visited, attended a BBQ for one of the ‘hockey families’ moving to Halifax, and my husband and I attended a wedding on Sunday! Lots of social events with special people. I am truly soaking up these times with friends before school and hockey routines set in again in September.

Sending Love,

Devon