A Thank You To My Friends

Warning: here be gushy mushy feelings in abundance

This has a weekend to remember and cherish.
Eva's been away on business all week. This is the second time in a couple of months, and as always I've missed her dearly. I'm very grateful she's getting the opportunities to learn so much, and a little envious these opportunities always seem to be located in warm, touristy areas (especially this winter...who couldn't use a week in Orlando along about now, even if much of it's spent in a classroom?)

Solitude and loneliness are two sides of the same coin, and someone who feels as deeply as I do can be deeply appreciative of...well, both, actually. The solitude goes without saying: I'm an introvert and a bit of a loner and mildly to sharply uneasy in the hustle and bustle of social situations unless I'm with a select few people (Eva at the top of that short list) who make me feel comfortable. And loneliness? I spent much of the first two decades of my life practically drowning in it before I even knew what it was. When I feel it now, it's always accompanied by the soothing feeling that this too shall pass.

It passed sooner than it would have thanks to two people I am proud and honoured to call friends. They're also two people who are inextricably linked in my mind, even though they don't know each other at all. Read on as this post is commencing to ramble.

Kate is a woman of heart and mind and it detracts nothing from my love for my wife  to say I love her. (You can keep the 'have your Kate and Eva, too' puns to yourself, thank you very much.)  Craig, meanwhile, you know about--I just saw him a couple of weeks ago playing trumpet in a production of Cabaret. He's an old friend and a good one...that's most of what he and Kate have in common. That and they live in London, where I grew up and (quite honestly) where I sometimes wish I still lived. That city has gone downhill since I moved away in 1989...but most of my friends are still there.

Eva and I first actually met Kate and her partner a year and a half ago, on the same evening we attending Craig's wedding reception. Since then, we've seen neither of them near often enough. This is going to change. I'm just happy I got to see both of them this weekend...

Kate came up on Saturday. Our dogs and cats promptly fell in love with her (Well, Peach had to bark at her for a while first, but later on, she was actually cuddling Kate in a way I don't think I've seen her manage with anyone else besides Eva.)  Before long a big puppy/kitty pile had formed and peace and contentment reigned supreme. A nice dinner was had (still can't get over the fact I like (some) Thai food). Wish you could have stayed longer, Kate, but we're all glad you came. Thank you. *hug*

And today, the third  (or is it fourth?) annual baseball game with Craig. And for the first time, his son Angus came along, which was a real pleasure.  Usually it's the Chicago White Sox in town, but Craig called me a while back and said he had opening weekend tickets versus the Yanks and I had right of first refusal. Like I'd refuse that. I'm not near as much of a baseball fan as Craig is, but you don't turn down a chance to see Derek Jeter on his farewell tour. Quite  possibly the best shortstop the game has ever seen.
The Jays lost, but at least they made it interesting.

Good times, good friends. I feel good. And Eva's coming home several hours earlier than she was originally going to, which is even better.