Unexpected surprise

So for this weekend I had a whole lot of nothing planned. Between having been sick last week and finally a quiet weekend we somehow managed to keep the entire weekend free of anything. It seemed a little unusual that NOTHING would be on our calendar but didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. Thursday left me drained. That cold was awful; chills, nausea, sneezing, coughing and aches. I thought I was going to die. I woke up on Friday feeling significantly better than the night before, although not 100%. The girls and I laid low and hung around the house. I put on comfy clothes, baled on my shower until later and settled in for the afternoon.

I fed the girls dinner around 4:45, as my children like to keep the hours of 75 year-olds. Towards the end of dinner I went into the office to turn on I-Tunes so we could listen to some tunes while we cleaned up. As I climbed the gate into the office I heard the clicking on heels on the concrete outside my door. I only remember noticing because I thought it odd that my neighbor Pat (who is a widowed 70 something lady) would wear shoes high enough to be clicky. A second later my doorbell rang. We don't usually get unannounced visitors so I though it was weird. I looked through the peep hole and saw a figure of someone thin and seemingly about my age. I thought it was Staci. I opened my door and got the surprise of my life. No, it wasn't Publishers Clearing House. It was MANDY! She writes Not So Patiently Waiting.

An unannounced visit from a friend probably sounds great to most of you but you have to get the gravity of it. Mandy and I met in our infertility Buddy Group almost 4 years ago and became fast friends. Ever since she has been probably my closest friend (other than Brian or my Mom). The thing is that we have never met in person. We talk on the phone and online regularly. She knows my life and I know hers. I figured that with both of us having small children we would be a couple years at least off of meeting each other in person.

When I opened my door and saw her standing there I cannot explain the shock, excitement and complete dumbfoundedness (i know, not a word) that I experienced. My friend of so long, who I only know what she looks like from pictures is at my front door. She and Brian had been conspiring for months to get her here. Her wonderful hubby was good enough to take time off from work so that she could come visit.

The weekend was full of LOTS of talking, plenty of eating and drinking and a ton of fun. She was here from Friday afternoon until this morning and it feels like I blinked and she was on the plane. I cried a good part of the way home knowing that I might not see my friend for another several years but not if I have anything to do about it.

Life has been tough lately. The past two or three years (for God's sake the past 5) have been full of ups and downs. This weekend has become one of my favorite new ups. :D

The co-conspirators:


My Friend and I:


Mandy & Gracie:


Mandy & Abs: