Friday, July 27, 2007

Old Memories and Making New Ones - Part 2

A week ago already! How could the time have gone so fast? V and I got up early (in fact an hour earlier than necessary, because I read my watch wrong!), hurried to get ready because of a 7:00 a.m. date with a Minneapolis city bus. (She laid back down, I read my book). We had decided taking the bus was the easiest way to get downtown for our rendezvous with our friend from high school, Maryam. I wrote about Maryam twice in October, here and here. The only time we could arrange to meet was for breakfast before she had to be at work at 9:00.

We spent the time catching up on 45 years. I cannot believe it's been so long. We didn't know each other well, but we enjoyed the friendship that we had. When we parted company that morning, I asked her what her husband thought of all this - he is Iranian and they had trouble getting back to America after they were married. He was pretty amazed by the whole reunion, I think. She said she was going home to tell him that we closed the gap of 45 years in about 45 minutes. Pretty close to true!

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I just noticed that V is the only one with her eyes open! It was early, but it's ridiculous that we appear to be falling asleep at the breakfast table!

V headed back to Ann's apartment to meet up with our parents and take them to Monticello, where they met and fell in love when they were only 14 and 17, to be married 3 years later. I had told Diane that I would be wearing red crop pants. It's a good thing I did, because I was watching for her on one street and she arrived on a perpendicular street. But I did stand out in the crowd! You can read her version of our time together here.

As we headed out of the city, Diane told me to grab the bag on the back seat. Oh, my goodness, she blessed me with such a lovely assortment of gifts, beautifully placed in a basket shaped like Minnesota! Everything in the basket had a Minnesota connection.

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Front and center you can see a bear at a computer - more about that later. Just behind the bear and to the left is a beautiful moose bookmark - what more appropriate gift could there be for me, who always needs to mark a place in a book?? To the right of the bookmark is a Minnesota-shaped chocolate sucker and beside it is a fish-shaped chocolate sucker. These were for the grandkiddoes - what a thoughtful friend. The red package is wild rice soup mix -I can't wait to taste it, but will wait till it's a bit cooler. Behind the soup are two packages of wonderful-looking truffles with Minnesota scenes on each of the four sides of the package - these are for my kids and their spouses. There was one more goodie, which I had already eaten when I took the picture - pretzel sticks covered with white chocolate, to look like birch tree logs. At the very back is a CD called "Minnesota Morning and Timeless Favorites" - piano music, which is one of my favorite types of music to listen to at work. I played it over and over yesterday as I remembered the good time we had together for those short hours.

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Isn't this just the cutest thing? It's called "E-Bear." I have it on my file cabinet at work in a very prominent spot. I had it on the table to take this picture. I must have been really distracted the next morning, because in the middle of the day I got an e-mail from DC asking me if I had meant for him to have it at his desk. I had left it on the table, and it's right where he eats breakfast - he thought I was going to let him have it - HA! I asked him to please, please remember to bring it back to me!

As Diane said, we had to make a stop at the Mall of America. I wasn't sure I was going to make it to this major landmark in Minneapolis, but thanks to Diane, I got to see it. I'm not a shopper in any sense of the word - give me a catalog and my easy chair any day. I would rather return stuff than try things on in a store dressing room! Even though it costs more that way. But you can't go to Minneapolis and not see the MOA - it's like going to Arizona and skipping the Grand Canyon!

I know we didn't even scratch the surface, but we had fun walking around, chatting several miles a minute as we did. We talked of how much fun it would be to bring the kiddoes there and spend a whole day. It's an amusement park as large as any you've probably seen. Amazing. The Lego display is unbelievable. We asked several people to take our pictures and they were all so willing to do so.

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We then headed for Diane's home town and had lunch at a lovely place on one of the thousands of beautiful lakes that Minnesota is famous for. What a great time we had eating delicious salads and making new memories. As she said, we talked about you, our friends, and wished you were there with us.

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Diane is a very generous person, as you can tell by the gift she gave me. She also took me to Monticello. I can tell you that there were very few silent moments in the 6 hours that we were together. As she mentioned, her 2:00 appointment was cancelled as we headed to Monti, so we had a bit more time than we anticipated. What a blessing. She told you about meeting my dad - the ultimate story teller. I am so glad that she enjoyed his memories so much.

When I began this blogging adventure a little over a year ago, I never dreamed that I would have the privilege, or even have the great desire, to meet someday. As Groovylady said in a comment to Diane, if we never meet on this earth, we will have a great Bloggy Get-together in heaven someday. Shall we set a date 100 years from now??

Diane's son is embarking on the journey to wholeness. It is because of our prodigal sons that we became acquainted. She hosted the big "Welcome Home, Kevin" party when he returned from Tēēn Challenge last June, before I even had a blog (Kristen soon took care of that!). So many prayers have gone up for so many of us and our life crises in the last year. What amazing answers to prayer we have seen. Now we get to watch God work in Diane's son's life.

I have a few more pictures and stories, so I'll quit for now and say "Part 3 - To Be Continued."


19 comments:

Tammy said...

Oh, I am so happy for you all to have met like this! Your childhood friends and your bloggy friend...what blessings for you all!

I loved what Groovy said...that is a wonderful thought!

(that is such a cute little e-bear, by the way!)

Thanks for sharing your reunions...I look forward to part 2!

Judith said...

You are so wise to take time for important moments like this together, even if short on sleep, and crunched for time.

Those patriotic shoes (in the Lego display) are just too cute!!! And that Minnesota bear could so easily disappear.

I will be praying for your new friend, and her family member doing the rehab program.

Myrna said...

How great to get to meet a bloggy friend--Especially one with whom you have made such a meaningful bond.

The Mall of America--I would really like to see tha. Even though I'm not an avid shopper it sounds like a fun place.

Looking forward to Part 3!

Susie said...

What wonderful pictures and gifts to help you remember this special time!
I've read about the Great Mall of America and often thought that it would be so interesting..
Looking forward to part 3!
xo

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Sweet Diane sent me some of the same gifts in the package she mailed me a while back. I can attest to the fact that the birch logs and the wild rice soup are delicious, as well as the chocolates and other goodies. :-)

I loved the pictures of two of my blogging buddies together. If I couldn't meet either of you IRL, I'm glad that you two were able to MIRL. :-)

Love and hugs,

Diane

Maine Mom said...

That basket is a wonderful gift and surprise! I have got to buy that bear at the computer for my Mom! Diane...can you e-mail me at joey.erickson@gmail.com to let me know where you got the bear and how I can get one. Thanks!

Dawn, can you give Kristen my e-mail address too. She wanted to "talk" with me, but I am unsuccessful in contacting her. Please let her know I am thinking of her. Thanks!

Barb said...

I'm very relieved to know I'm not the only one who has a pair of bright red capris. People paying attention wil have noticed I was wearing them the day of Mandy's wedding when I helped her get into her wedding gown. I'm hard to miss in those pants but I love them!

That mall must be truly amazing. I'm not a big shopper either but I'd love to see that place.

You both look so lovely in the photos. How wonderful that two people who so genuinely connected through their blogs finally got to meet each other. And her gift is so thoughtful.

So tell me, when you and I meet in October, what would you like from Colorado? LOL We're pretty famous for our peaches out here in the western part of the state. :-)

Theresa said...

What a lovely story! And I just love that e-bear.

I haven't had the pleasure of actually meeting any of my blogging friends yet, but hopefully someday. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Linda said...

Hi Dawn,
It's been a busy morning and we are heading out the door for choir practice before evening service. I just quickly checked my email and wanted to thank you for asking about my Dad. Mom called this morning and said he was out on his riding mower cutting the grass. A good sign. He has been coughing less and has slept well the past couple of nights. I think just getting a diagnosis and knowing there isn't something dreadful wrong has helped a lot.
Thank you so much, sweet friend, for your prayers.
I will come back and read your post later. It looks far too good to hurry through.

C. H. Green said...

So glad you had a great visit. I'm looking forward to the day I get to meet you and Diane. Maybe it won't be too far down the road. Hope you're having a good weekend.

Linda said...

Oh Dawn - what a fabulous time you girls had!!! What a great present from Diane. The pictures are so good - I felt like I was right there with you. I'm not much of a shopper either, but I don't think that Mall is to be missed.
It sure was a blessing for the two of you to spend time together. I'm so pleased for you.

Lala's world said...

oh how fun!! so happy u were able to do that!! looks like a great time!!

Carole Burant said...

Reading about how you met up with an old friend and a blogging buddy, it makes me want to go meet all of you!!! Such wonderful goodies that Diane gave you, that little bear with the computer is just adorable:-) I so enjoyed reading about what you did and seeing all the pictures...looking forward to part 3 now:-) xox

Nancy said...

WOW, what a fun story and an exciting time for you. Diane sounds like the kind of blogging friend we could all use and what a blessing to spend time with her. Thanks for sharing the pictures too.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

How you will always treasure those moments! I am really enjoying the photos and stories!

Linds said...

How wonderful to spend time with both new and old friends, and isn't it great when they feel almost the same?! The photos are so lovely of you all, and how kind Diane was to bring you such a thoughful gift!

Midlife Mom said...

I'm just getting caught up on reading everyones's blogs since I got back from the weekend, WOW you sure have had a lot going on!! What a wonderful thing to meet up with these people that mean so much to you. What a ride down memory lane!!! I love all the art work, just beautiful especially the ones with the beads. The computer bear is adorable too! Shame on them confiscating your jam! You really couldn't do much harm with that on the plane!! That was nice of you to give up your seat to the other gal and that you had a good time talking. I would love to go to that huge mall but I don't think my knee would hold up! ha! I'd have to get a scooter! It would be fun to look around at everything. The Lego stuff is just amazing!!! My grand son would love that. You certainly crammed a lot in a short amount of time. I am looking forward to Part #3.

Girl Raised in the South said...

Glad to hear that your trip was all you hoped for, and more! xoxoxo

groovyoldlady said...

I'm so glad you two did this. What a blessing I'm SURE it was for both of you!!

My friend Marianne and I are going to meet in September with our kiddos. Our bond isn't quite as tight, but it should still quite fun and memorable. I'm really looking forward to it!