That's What Friends Are For

I dreamt last night that I was at Ikea trying to make a decision about a new bookshelf. I hemmed and hawed over the choices before me, wondering where I would put the new shelf. Should it go in the living room? Shall I place it in the office? Is there a short one I could put in my bedroom?

When I woke, I remembered that Marloes would be here today. Bearing gifts.

I made scones (or for you American English speakers: biscuits) and set them out to serve with butter and my sister's homemade pomegranate jam.

I brewed coffee. Then I waited.

Marloes arrived with her husband and together we carried into the house two large boxes of books.

Books. Books. Books. Wow, books!

The three of us sat down together at my table and shared a pot of coffee and a lot of gab. Andrew did his best to entertain in his special 4-year-old way. He plopped his diaper clad bottom down on the living room rug and watched Dutch cartoons while he ate full chubby handfuls of Honey Loops directly from the box. Doesn't sound like laugh-a-minute entertainment? Then you just don't know Andrew. For an encore to the breakfast show, he snatched my glasses from the dining room table, put them on his face, and strutted around the house--Mick Jagger style--fully aware that all the adoration and attention was his and his alone. I'm telling you. That is entertainment.

Marloes is everything I anticipated she would be. I enjoy reading her blog immensely and she has been so cyber-supportive to me at mine, I knew the heart behind the words would be a warm one.

We had a delightful time, for the few minutes they lingered in my home. It was as if we had been friends forever and the conversation and the laughter was so natural and easy.

And the coffee was good. Good conversation will do that to a pot.

The best part of it all today--besides the books, books books!--is knowing that this first meeting in the real world won't be the last. Indeed, I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship