An old friend

For the last three weeks I have had an old friend visiting Maine from Washington.  She was able to visit several times during her stay here this time.  Her kids played with my daughter.  It was nice having them around but she's heading back home today, so all good things must end.

It has been a very nostalgic visit for me because this is such an important person from a particularly difficult time in my life.  A friendship that formed when we were both going through some hard times back in the mid 1990's.  It was the most time we've been able to hang out for the last 25 years.  My ex always had a problem with her, so she was scared away for the longest time but our friendship endured regardless.  

It was also a huge change of pace for me.  I've been rather isolated since this stupid pandemic started like a month after my final divorce hearing.  I was ready to emerge into the world back then.  There just wasn't a world left to emerge into at the time.  My friend has gotten me motivated to get back out there.  So last week, I started going back to the place where we met for the first time in years.  It is a coffee shop in one of the busiest parts of Portland.  It's still a popular spot where I can get a coffee and bagel.  Their iced tea is awesome.  If I take my scooter, I can park for free.  I can bring my tablet or my notebook.  Maybe I'll get to know some of the regulars again.  

Or maybe I'm destined to be a face in the crowd forever.  The future is always a mystery.

So today is really a sad day for me.  You never know if that will be the last time you see somebody.  I hope and pray that it won't be.