A long time coming ~~

For YEARS, I've been trying to get together with Patricia. With me in Indiana and her in Michigan, it wasn't exactly easy.  We had tentative plans to get together halfway last year but then I  took a canoe trip which didn't end well. So the plan was put on hold.

Neither of us know exactly how long we've "known" each other, but it has been at least 7 years.  We initially met through blogland and after years and literally THOUSANDS of phone calls, emails and messages, finally got to hug each other Thursday.

It was just as I knew it would be.  We were instantly "old friends."   As comfortable as your favorite sweater on a chilly morning.  And why wouldn't we be?  Over the years, we've cried, prayed, ranted and raved together.  I've cried many tears of joy and sorrow with her and for her over the years -- as she has for me.  In fact, there were quite a few shed this weekend over something that happened at home, while I was there.

And now, we've eaten together and laughed till our sides hurt -- together.  She taught me to play Shuffleboard (with little hockey puck lookin' things) as well as Cribbage, which we played late into the night. Heck, just to make it memorable, we even assembled a teeny tiny grill (in only 3 hours) and locked ourselves out of her house -- together.

We had a wonderful weekend and I was blessed to be with her.   Rest assured, it won't be another 7 years before we do it again!