A Thanksgiving Reunion

On Wednesday, my good friend R and I moved quickly along 72nd towards Central Park West in NYC. In the cool rain at dusk striding side-by-side through crowded city walkways it was almost like we were in Portugal again where we were mission companions. All those years ago, we loved working together and generally found joy during our three months together. Her strengths were my weaknesses, and I learned so much from her. Every day, every hour for three months--those were good times. Here's a souvenir of that companionship straight from my mission album:
Fast forward nine years to Wednesday when we were on a different mission to take our kids into the City to the Macy's Day Parade's Balloon Inflation--a sort of reverse parade in which the balloons remain stationary where they are mostly-inflated held down by nets and sandbags while the onlookers move along the sidewalk in a circle around the block. Our kids never escaped us in the press of pedestrian traffic and they seemed to enjoy the sights and sounds and helium-filled characters.
I love that photo of her snapping a picture of her daughter, little Miss V.
J walked the whole way from Penn Station to the balloons and then back to the train station. I shouldn't have been surprised that one hot dog from Gray's Papaya wasn't enough to fill him up at dinnertime.
We were so lucky to have R's family here for Thanksgiving. She even treated us to a Crane Family favorite--pumpkin spice cake (with butterscotch pudding as its secret ingredient) and cream cheese frosting.
Her children are good and smart and her husband is kind and helpful. I couldn't ask for anything more for my friend. Who'd have thought nine years ago that we'd meet up like this with our kids and good husbands and celebrate a holiday together? I'm not sure that either of us saw these sorts of visits in our future when were in Portugal, but it's just proof that often what really happens exceeds what we could have planned for ourselves.

Thanks, Martinez family, for traveling to see us. We will miss little Miss V's mature commentaries and commands, and little Mr. R's energetic play. We look forward to our next reunion.
One more high five for R's husband from my little E who give 'im five every time.
And here's to future reunions with good friends. This Thanksgiving I was immensely grateful for my friendship with this girl--I love her.