When Friends Become Family

 On Friday afternoon, I drove into town to pick up a friend from the airport who was flying in to spend the weekend with us. When we moved here, I sent her this photo and said, "Come visit!".

I wrote a post about this special couple who we've known for almost 30 years HERE. Through those years, they became family and I could not have gotten through the year my mom was sick, her passing, or the packing up and selling of her and daddy's home without these special people.

 Sadly, Bob passed in 2021, but Sue and I have kept in touch and I was so looking forward to her visit. She was due to land at 4:39. I went in early to run a few errands. Needed to pick up horse feed and a dab of groceries and make a few more stops.

She texted me at 3:00 and said, "If you are on your way, turn around. I missed my connection."

She had been visiting their daughter, SIL, and grandkids in Colorado and the flight was delayed because they had to de-ice the plane. She rushed to make her connection and got to the gate 13 minutes before take off and they wouldn't let her board.

Our airport is tiny. There are only 3 flights per day, but she was able to secure a seat on the next flight coming in at 9:39. 

We live 1 hour and 25 minutes from the airport and there was no sense in going home so I puttered in town. I rarely have the time to do that. I had a lengthy conversation with.an employee at the local hardware store. I poked around for a long time at the nursery, I wrote a card and tucked chocolate bunnies in my former boss' mailbox, I found some cute clothes for grandkidlets at Marshall's and some goodies to tuck into the welcome basket in the guest room. I strolled around Hobby Lobby and then Sue called me to say her flight had been delayed due to mechanical issues. Then it was delayed again until they could locate another plane...and pilot...and flight attendants. She told me to go home and she'd just get a hotel for the night when she got in. Absolutely not. So I read in the truck until her plane landed at 11. 

What a long day for her, but I told her that there was no clock watching where we lived and we spent a wonderful, relaxing weekend just catching up. 

We chatted over a puzzle when the cold wind picked up on Saturday

And explored a few trails on Sunday after Easter dinner. I introduced her to the chicks

And evening chores

And we shared stories and memories and reminisced all weekend before her return flight on Monday. My Daddy used to call them "the kids" because they were about 6 years younger than my folks. I have to say that Sue makes 79 look really good! She's such a joy, young at heart, kind, agile, and athletic. I want to be like her when I grow up!

Her sweet Bob and my mom and daddy would be happy to know we're keeping in touch. I love it when friends become family.