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A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same ~ Elbert Hubbard

If you read my last post here you already know that I’ve been struggling a little bit to get back on track. (Thanks by the way to all of you who commented with your pearls of wisdom).

One of the best ways I know of getting back on track is to reconnect with the important people in my life.

I got this opportunity on Sunday with a handful of friends that I’ve known for 20+ years but haven’t seen for about two years.

Me and the girls

There’s no one like my old friends.

They already know me.

They know all my strengths.

They know all my flaws.

And they still love me.

And the feeling is quite mutual.

After almost two years abroad, George and Annie are in Canada again for a quick stopover before they go off trotting the globe again.

I’ve been anticipating their return for some time and was anxious to hear about their journey (physical and spiritual) over the last couple of years.

Another old friend, Kelly picked me up at my place on Sunday afternoon to drive the 1 hour and 8 minutes into rural Alberta to visit George and Annie. They are staying with yet some other old friends, Bob and Mo whom I also haven’t seen in some time.

Wait did I say it was an hour and 8 minutes drive?

That’s what Map Quest indicates.

But we were there in 45 minutes!

Kelly’s fast – but she’s an excellent driver!

Our drive there provided Kelly and I the opportunity to catch up on each other’s lives and the mountains and clear sunny sky made a beautiful backdrop for our trip.

At Bob and Mo’s we quickly fell into step and the conversation was freely flowing as if time and distance had never separated us. We laughed at the funny things others shared and we sympathetically listened to the hard things some had endured.

And then we reminisced about the good old days when we were in our twenties…

about the stupid things we did

about the things that changed us forever

the hard times

and the good times.

Another old friend, Kathy showed up after work and made our time together even more precious.

It’s funny. 20+ years have gone by. Our kids are grown and some of them have kids of their own.

Yet we all agreed that we wouldn’t want to be 20 again.

We’ve come a long way and we feel good about who we are today.

After a wonderful meal of hamburgers, smokies, green salad, potato salad, chocolate cake and ice-cream a few of us took a walk as the sun was setting on a perfect summer’s day spent with good friends.

Yes, there’s no one like my old friends. They already know me.

They know all my strengths.

They know all my flaws.

And they still love me.

And the feeling is quite mutual.

I still haven’t figured out what is ‘off’ in my life, but having spent some time with my old friends, it hardly seems that important anymore. Perhaps I just needed to reconnect and get grounded again.

When is the last time you connected with the important people in your life?