Friends that come, and go

Way back in the 1980's I met a young man who impressed me very much. He was the paper delivery 'boy' (teen) for my brother in law Beatnik (Paul Bodnar). He has since married, fathered 2 wonderful children, become successful in his career and our paths have crossed so many times in our lives, too many times to recollect. Over the years I have met and gotten to know his wife Petrine and have come to not only like her, but admire her in her wit, confidence, compassion, steadfastness, & strength, only to name a few. A few years ago they offered their Cape May home to me for a week while they were not going to be able to use it and of course, Miss Pretty Nala & I went and had such a relaxing week. Petrine, Donald & I have been talking for years about doing a week or a weekend together in Cape May but the next thing you know the summer fades and so does the opportunity to get together. When we saw each other in June, we pulled out our calendars and secured the 26th of August thru the 31st as my time to join them in Cape May as both of their teens will be away.


As the time got closer I thought, does she really want me down there for 5 nights & 6 days? Will they tire of me or vice versa? Usually a vaca is filled with too much 'stuff' and I cannot wait to get home. Not this time. My first day, Petrine and I went to a bar/restaurant called Harpoon Henry's to have a few beers & some appies and watch the sun set. Oh MY :) The next day we both woke up late and she made me an awesome breakfast of poached eggs & we relaxed over some coffeee and headed out in the afternoon into the square to shop and browse and went home to some wine, conversation and friendship. When Donald & their friend Carol arrived later that night we all sat up and chatted had a few drinks and started our weekend and what a weekend it was. Sleeping late, hovering over coffee and chatting at the breakfast table until noon in our PJs and a casual afternoon. The rest of the weekend went along just like this, sleeping late, long breakfasts, casual afternoons & evenings, great conversation & most of all friendship. When Tuesday came along I thought I would leave early to get some items attended to, but we went to the beach & sat and chatted. Petrine made a delicious chilli to give me energy to drive home.

Blessed doesn't even describe this weekend, this family and this friendship.

I know this is long, and I won't keept this but very short, in the Title of this blog it is 'Friends that come, and go', I will write next about my lifelong friend that has gone, Jane Lynk D'Ambra who lost her life to cancer on Friday, the 27th. Unfortunately, I didn't find out about it until today and am devastated that I was not able to participate in her services. Peace out my good friend Jane.

Psalm 31:16Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love