my friend

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R:
Two weeks ago, one of my BFFs did something amazing for me – she flew over to see me for the weekend! FOR THE WEEKEND! What a nutter, but then most of my best friends are, I’m proud to say. Amanda arrived on Thursday afternoon, and I picked her up from the airport with all the kids. I was so excited to see her, and we both cried when we hugged Hello…..it’s been 9 months since I’ve seen anyone from home apart from my parents of course…..and I think about my friends all the time, and wish I could see them like I used to….whenever I liked. It was so wonderful to see Amanda, and be with her for four whole days, and have new memories to think about.
Amanda was whisking me away to Niagara Falls for the weekend, so on Friday we engaged our Chauffeur (Jason with 4 kids in tow) to drive us there and we checked into the Crowne Plaza about 5 o’clock. I remember the moment Amanda looked out of the window to check the view, she gasped…..as it was the first time she had seen the Falls. Second on the list was to jump on the Hotel beds and whoop like silly teenagers! We had dinner in the Hotel that night – talked and talked and talked and talked – and then went to bed. The next day we went to the Water Park – Amanda did a total of TWO chutes, if my memory serves me correctly, and spent the rest of the time lounging by the pool. I hung out with 12 year old boys and did the Extreme Danger Virtual Terror Chutes – great fun – although at the end of some of them, my swimsuit was NOT where it was supposed to be!!
In the afternoon we took a few hours to walk up to the Falls. We spent a fair amount of time just looking at the Falls, and talking, talking. Later we went back to the Water Park for a bit, then got dressed up and went out for dinner, courtesy of Aunty Mary, Amanda’s Mummy. Thank you Aunty Mary! More talking. After that, we didn’t feel like going back, so we wandered around and ended up at a bar, where there was a live band playing and we danced, true to Coulsdon Girls style!
I don’t think I have changed since moving to a different country, but it was just so reassuring, and comforting to be with my close friend, who knows me so well, and to talk, and laugh, and cry, and be silly, just like we always did, like we always have – for the past 25 years! I can’t say Thank you enough to Amanda for coming over, and for treating me to a wonderful time away. Although it was only 4 days, I feel like we crammed much more into those days. I assumed that I would have to express just how much more appreciated this time was, because it’s been so long since we’ve been together. I did enjoy it, so much, but, I have to say, it was just the same as all the other times. And this is good. I have a very good memory, and there are thousands of snippets of memories all stored in my heart of precious times spent with friends – mostly good and fun times, and some sad – working through bad stuff together. This visit that Amanda gifted to me taught me that it will always be the same with her, and thus the same with other friends when I get to see them.
I miss Amanda. She says she will come and see me again, even if just for a few days like this time! This is the major treasure I have had to sacrifice – being able to be with my family and my close friends whenever I like. And it hurts like mad. Today I sat at the meeting, and was just in tears the whole time….
I have to try not to feel sorry for myself – there are many many things I am grateful for, 4 healthy children, and wonderful family here, and friends here that are really starting to make an impact on our lives.
But I’m not home, will not be, until the New World. Can’t wait. We’ll all make it. And friendships like mine and Amanda’s will make that so!

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