I met my classmates yesterday morning for coffee. We always have so much fun visiting. We had some new folks and some who hadn’t attended in quite some time, which is always nice. One of the gals brought little pots of shamrocks for us. I remember when Wood County Bank used to give them out every St. Patrick’s Day. I hadn’t had one for ages so I brought it home and put it in the kitchen window. Hopefully I don’t kill it, but I’m not laying bets on it.

One of the gals who came to coffee was in school with me from second grade on through high school. Barb grew up about twenty blocks from me, but my mom was super protective of me and I wasn’t allowed to wander much more than a three or four block radius from the house. Still, I always knew and liked Barb. 

One story in particular I remember. This was back in Junior High and “falls” were in fashion. They were long half wigs where the hair attached to a stretchy headband. I remember Barb coming to school one day and her hair was suddenly very long. Now, I was a terribly protected and naive kid. I had never heard of falls. I was mesmerized. I asked her how on earth she got her hair to grow like that overnight. She told me she laid on her bed, hung her head over the edge, and brushed and brushed her hair. I went home and tried that and the next morning…nothing! I asked her if I had done something wrong and she laughed and slipped the fall off. I couldn’t believe it! lol

I shared that story yesterday and we all had a great laugh. When we were done and the obligatory photo was taken, we all went our separate ways. Barb headed to pick up her husband and the dogs to come to our house to pick up Birdie. This was Barb’s birthday gift to herself. I am so in awe of her. She is a nurse practitioner and lived in Alaska, traveling to remote villages by single engine prop planes. She lived and worked all winter in such harsh conditions in the dark season. Then in the summer, she works at a children’s camp. She recently retired, but couldn’t stand it and went back to work. She’s amazing! 

I went through the camper with them, showing them how this and that worked. I know they were on sensory overload so I hooked her up with Girl Camper and with a FB group for a-frame campers where they can ask whatever questions they have. And, of course…YouTube. All of the booklets are in the camper as well, and if they can’t find the answer, they can always call us. I am so glad this little camper went with a friend. It was a little bittersweet letting Birdie go, but we just don’t need TWO birdhouse campers. However we DO need a new roof! Priorities! 

I felt like we really accomplished something yesterday. A little “lightening of the load” around here and that always feels good! Now, on to the next thing!

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“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV