I took this picture a couple of months ago, after I completed a redo on my niece's back porch. I was looking through my photos today and came across it. It got me thinking about it: what was beautiful about today?
With nearly half my family on various vacations, it left just me and my sister in town. We decided to drive into the city to look up a family friend, an older lady who we haven't seen in awhile. We still sometimes do things the old fashioned way-- like just dropping by. When I was young, my parents' friends used to do this all the time. It would typically be a Friday or Saturday night, and they'd just drive up--always a husband and wife and sometimes a reluctant teenager. They were always dressed like they were going someplace special, at least by today's standards. If we weren't home, it was no big deal. They just enjoyed the drive. But with high gas prices, cell phones and the general coldness that is so pervasive in our society, stopping by for an unannounced visit is considered rude, or at least, inconvenient.
I loved my parents' drop in visitors. It meant that I could assist in taking coats and hats, assembling some quick snacks, making coffee, retrieving an ash tray (my parents never smoked, but a few of their friends did) and then settling in, usually at the top of the stairs, to listen to their stories. Sometimes it would be stories I'd heard many times before, or the four of them trying to remember someone's name from long ago. Regardless of the topics, the conversation was always lively and never argumentative. And there was always lots and lots of laughter. The evening involved nothing more than coffee, something sweet and lots of talking. No cards, no alcohol, just conversation that went on well into the night. After several hours, they'd say their goodbyes, promising to get together again soon. I don't ever remember my parents complaining about the visit or wishing they would leave.
Our visit today was almost fruitless since she wasn't home, nor was her neighbor, whom we checked on as well. But, our mission was accomplished at least in part because we tried and I try not to procrastinate when someone is on my mind. We also happened upon an older lady from church who was walking to catch a bus. We were able to give her a ride and save her the trouble. We ended up visiting with her for awhile. Good thing we took that drive!
Just two weeks ago I ran into a family friend that I hadn't seen in over a year. Stopping by to see her in the next few weeks was definitely in my plans. She reminded me that I didn't need an invitation and didn't need to call first. She was one of our old-school friends, from the neighborhood where no one was formal, there was no such thing as an imposition, and conversation was King. I feel blessed to have run into her because she passed away just a few days ago. I have no doubts that I would have done that "drop-by" in the next few weeks, but I held off. I was waiting for both my kids to be in town so they could go with me. Unfortunately, I didn't have that much time.
So as I look toward next week, when I'll likely be attending a funeral, I can also say that I didn't indulge my lazy tendencies on a sunny Saturday. I took a lovely drive with my sister on a beautiful day, and while my original wish wasn't fulfilled, I gave a nice old lady a ride, had some good conversation and laughed a lot. Today will be fondly remembered.
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