Monday, February 11

I Say It's All Right

SMID's Music Monday

There are precious few things in life which I can get all that excited about. Ownership of material items has never been altogether important to me. That's not to say that I don't appreciate having things, or even relish the accoutrement of my life. Nor would it be true to insinuate that I don't get a little giddy over, say, buying a new pair of boots. I like things; truly I do, but I know I can live without things. That's all I am trying to say.

What I can't live without is friendship.

If you've been reading this blog for long you may have picked up on that notion before this bold announcement. But I am all about pointing out the obvious things. Additionally, if you've been reading this blog for any length of time at all, you may well have picked up on a friendship I have been nurturing with a fellow blogger.

She's been coming by to comment almost from the first day I opened this blog.
We email often.
We run a little photo site together.

We met for the first time last Friday.

While it was not my first blogger meeting, it was certainly my first blogger-who-flew-across-the-ocean-to-spend-time-with-me meeting.

Strange, perhaps, inviting someone you've never met to come stay with you for a few days, and yet, the most natural thing in the world. In honesty it was a face to face meeting which seemed long overdue. We kept it a little quiet in the weeks leading up to her trip to my side of the pond, for one thing, because it was a touch and go departure for her as she battled illness both in herself and her children. We also kept it quiet because, well, we didn't want it to look like we were bragging, or lording it over anyone.

But I can't help just to gloat over it just the tiniest bit.

Bear with me.

As Allison donned her red boots and packed her red suitcase for the trip, she loaded it chock-full of all kinds of sought after goods for this expat family. Peanut butter, chocolate chips, cake mix, goldfish, NEW YORKER MAGAZINES, etc. made the journey across the water and were delivered to exuberantly grateful recipients. (That would be us) She also brought a plethora of little surprises and very thoughtful gifts; each a treasure in its own right.

But the best thing she brought with her? The thing all of Holland is really in awe over?

She brought the sun.

No kidding.

I have been whining for weeks about the grey skies and the wicked winds of the lowlands. I warned her that it would likely be a cold, rainy weekend we would spend together. It would still be fun, but we would certainly be hunkered down inside somewhere listening to the wind whistle and watching the rain pelt the windowpane.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Instead of a typical winter weekend, this one with Allison was perfection. Blue skies, warm temperatures, and no wind. It was absolutely incredible on every level. We had a blast.

And, as you may have guessed, we have the photos to prove it.

So, to my darling friend, a dedicated Music Monday post with a tribute to the light she brought along.

Sing it with me now.

Here comes the sun,
here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling,
it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun,
here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun,
here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear

Here comes the sun,
here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right *


*Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles
*******************************
Please join me in welcoming another new friend to the blogosphere!
C'mon, bring a little sunshine to a newbie in the neighborhood.

26 comments:

  1. I'm glad you guys had an awesome time.

    And can I just say, I LOVE The Beatles! Honestly my all time favorite group.

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  2. Sunshine indeed! It was awesome, as was seeing SMID! And of course catching up with you my Darlin'!

    But a certain 14-year-old is right I'm afraid...

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  3. Oh, amen, FA...
    "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone"
    None at all.

    cg-
    can I just say, me too? Me. Too.

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  4. Allison's rays were wide reaching. It's also sunny here in Germany and the weatherman predicts this good weather all week!

    I'm glad you two had a great meeting!

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  5. I LOVE the Beatles! And where the hell are the pictures?

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  6. diane-
    If our blue skies fade away post Allison departure, we can all be assured that she is indeed the source!! Soooo glad you've been walking in the sunshine too!

    jami-
    Patience, love. Good things come to those who wait.

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  7. :D I wondered why the weather was so spring-like! I even cycled to the trainstation with my coat open! Didn't do that for, oh, half a year? ;)

    Good to hear you're having fun!

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  8. Dear Lord,
    Please grant me patience. NOW!
    Amen.

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  9. jami-
    And? Did it work? Seems like it could have worked. That whole demanding things NOW really makes things happen at this house. Oh, wait... no it doesn't.

    anneke-
    I know! Isn't it amazing, this weather?

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  10. Did the immediate demand work? Oh, sure - about as well as it works at our respective abodes.

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  11. Aawww... I'm so glad you guys had fun!

    (And now FA's red boots post makes a whole lot more sense.)

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  12. Singing along with all my heart, trying to hide the hideous jealousy that threatens to consume me entirely...

    Okay, actually, I'm so glad you guys had such a good time.

    Silly little secret-keepers!

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  13. Sounds like you girls had a fantastic time. I'm a little jealous, but I don't think either of you are gloating or lording it over anyone.

    You should always share joy!

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  14. tc-
    how very nice of you to say that. It was joyful, and joy filled. That is certain!

    brill-
    Does it help to know that we thought of you a lot? Just think: next trip across the pond should include me seeing YOU. :)

    vs-
    Hahahahaha! Those silly boots!

    jami-
    Dang. I was really hoping it worked. Then, of course, I was going to demand patience. NOW.

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  15. I am SO tickled for both of you--well, three with fourier analyst too, eh? Sunshine indeed!

    It's a good bet I never leave the states--but if I did, I'd want to follow those red boots for a visit too. You never know, life is stranger than fiction ;-)

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  16. I'm so glad you both had such a wonderful time!

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  17. We wants to see the pics and hear the stories!!!!

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  18. Wow...I'm envious with your guys! Maybe you should consider vacationing here in the Philippines too! ;)

    And I love Beatles...so obviously, I can sing along with you...Happy Music Monday!

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  19. Love this song from Beatles!

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  20. Come on over to Bonnie’s Books (http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2008/02/awards-ceremony-dress-appropriately.html). Dress up because I’m having an awards ceremony complete with gala. And do bring along your acceptance speech, though the producers are asking that each person receiving an award please limit your speech to five minutes ... save your longer comments for your own blog, when you pass along the award(s).

    Oh, wait, I've already told you all that when I commented on your Looking Into blog. It needs to be said again here, however, so you know to keep looking down the post because you got more than one!

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  21. Guess What? I think I'm next! There's a little rumor that a certain SMID is coming to a certain city (ostensibly for work) to visit a certain someone...

    Hope she brings that kind of sun too! Glad you got to meet one of my dearest friends in the world, face to face. Don't ya just love her?!? Ken

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  22. Woah, did I just get a comment from the ever wonderful (and somewhat missing in action) Ambassador? How did I do it? Is the mention of Allison all it took, because I can do that again: Allison, Allison, Allison.... SMID, SMID, SMID...

    I did indeed have a lovely time with your lovely friend. I am still feeling just a little floaty over the whole affair!

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  23. that's still such an amazing story. And I enjoyed her sun very much as well! My pictures prove it too. So great to hear you had a splendid weekend. You are damn right to brag about it.

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  24. I'm so jealous.

    I still want to know what prize I get for guessing.

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  25. I was so excited for the both of you when SMID told me about it! I'm glad you had such a good time.

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  26. I'm glad you guys had such a wonderful time. And why not brag? I totally would. I was insanely jealous. Especially because I had a brief glimmer of hope for a family trip to Germany in May of 2009 and got all excited about the fact that The Hague is not so far from Hamburg that I couldn't attempt to hook up a rendevous with you...but that hope was dashed before I could sound the bells and whistles to say I'M CROSSING THE OCEAN NEXT YEAR. Maybe one day, though.

    "Here Comes The Sun" is a lovely song that's very dear to my heart - makes me think of becoming a mom.

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