Water, Sun, Friends…. It Must Be A Pool Day!

The most fabulous and wonderful Melissa came over Thursday and brought her kids.

Melissa and I met way back in the olden days of internet when there was a bulletin-board type internet service called GEnie. We didn’t live in the same state, but one holiday weekend, she came to Oregon to visit family and we met her there. 13 was called 1 at that point.

We’ve been friends ever since.

I hadn’t seen her in person in a while because of where we live now, children’s schedules, writing schedules, family life, &c, though we do keep in touch via e-mail and phone calls and the writer’s grapevine. It was absolutely wonderful to see her again. I was bummed for her when her trip plans changed—since I don’t camp, I like to live vicariously through those who do—until I realized it meant she and her kids could come play at my house!

9 had been nervous that he wouldn’t have any fun. He crawled into my lap and said in pathetic-boy voice, “But I don’t know any of these kids.” Two minutes after they arrived, you would have never guessed the kidlets hadn’t grown up playing together. They splashed in the pool, they played Wii, they played Rock Band, they ate, they laughed. As soon as they left, he wanted to know when they were coming back.

Even though Melissa and I don’t see each other in-person all that often, we keep in touch and keep up with each other, and when we get together, we pick up right where we left off, without missing a beat. In many ways, she’s more like a sister.

I think everyone had a great time. We spent hours in the backyard and the afternoon slipped away.

I love lazy summer days.