A Friendship that Travels

The most difficult thing about moving is not being able to easily get together with people that I was used to seeing all the time.  You go from knowing that person is just a across the hall at work or just a short drive away to having to make a monumental effort in order to visit face to face with them.

My great friend, E., made the tremendous effort last year in March to come visit me in Europe.  I know that it had to be hard for her to leave her husband and young daughters for so many days.  Not to mention the expense of traveling and the inconvenience of lugging big bags through airports, train stations, shuttles, and across bumpy, cobblestoned roads.  But, thankfully, the lure of friendship, new sights, and adventure convinced her to make the trip. 

I can't believe it has been a year since E.'s visit.  The old adage of "where did time go?" is keenly true.  I wish that I had spent more time writing down the details of her visit to Strasbourg and our visit to Paris.  I wrote down the basics of what we did in my diary, but unfortunately didn't make note of my passing thoughts.  At the time I probably figured that I would always remember how it felt to see the Eiffel Tower for the first time as E. pointed it out in the Paris skyline.  I do remember it, but it isn't as sharp as it was then.

At the time I might have considered our adventure in Europe together to be the epitome of our friendship.  It may be the most adventurous thing that we will do together (although I am still holding out for a trip with her to New York City).  But a year later I realize that her visit here was just another great time on a long, long list of wonderful moments spent together.  Was looking at the Mona Lisa together better than playing with E.'s daughters at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum?  Although different, both events hold an equally special place in my heart. 

Thank goodness for friendships, especially long held ones.  They make life so much more interesting, comforting, and worthwhile.  It doesn't make a difference to me whether the meetings are conducted in exotic, foreign lands or on familiar ground.  It is the time spent together that counts. 

For the next few days I am planning to highlight some of the events of E.'s visit to France.  Stop back to see us tackle a castle in Alsace and museums in Paris. 

March 2010