...all these great friends. Although we are making new wonderful friends here in Utah my kids talk a lot about their friends in Columbus, Ohio. Abbey often asks, "When are we going back to Columbus, Ohio?" It's just so cute the way she says "Columbus, Ohiiiiiio." We miss you friends!
...putting "free stuff" (garbage) on your side walk and watching it disappear within a day. Not to mention FINDING cool "free stuff" or garbage on other people's side walks. O.K. maybe that's not just a Columbus thing.... I think it is a Hilltop thing. Regardless, we miss it.
...sitting on our front porch interacting with our neighbors on a daily basis. Ben could tell you more about the Sociology of front porches and how our society has changed to a more back yard, individualistic way of living. I just miss the daily eye contact with people you had no reason to talk to other than you ran into them. I don't know if we would have gotten to know very many of our neighbors. We didn't have a whole lot in common as far as family situations or professions, but we saw them on their porches often and struck up conversations often. Now they are some of our closest friends.
...and one of our neighbors/best friend that did have a lot in common with us. In fact I saw and talked and was with her more than my own husband. We spent just about every day together. Being in Utah near my mother and brother and tons of Mormons (he he) has been incredible. People are so helpful and kind and you can't beat living close to my mother (one of my other best friends). Still, I can't get over missing my friend Cathie. It's hard to understand the impact someone has on your life until you don't have them in your life anymore. We have all experienced that. I have lots of times. But Cathie is different. Like she said in her blog, "some say motherhood is like warfare which means she and I were in the trenches together." And some one said to me, "Cathie is like a ray of sunshine. When ever I talk to her she just makes me feel happier." It's true. I was trying to figure out why that is. I mean don't we all want to be like that? She is so quick to laugh. I always feel like the funniest person when I talk to her. So slow to judge. Not that she doesn't disagree sometimes but in a totally non-offensive way. And she just exudes love. I always felt like she admired me for who I was. She knows how to focus on the good things about you. I can hear her laugh right now.
So, when I got the best phone call yesterday morning from her announcing she would be coming with her daughter Leah for Abbey's birthday I was bursting with emotion.
These last 6 weeks have been hard. The constant sea sick feelings and throwing up twice a day has really gotten to me. I must admit, I'm a little down (to put it lightly) I miss my friends in Columbus Ohio and I wished I could call up Cathie or Kim or Rebecca or Melody or Beth or Mari Anne or several others and ask if I could come over and just visit. Knowing Cathie is coming next month gives me something to look forward to. I can't wait! I can't believe she really gets to come here! I can't wait!
