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Friendship Beyond the Borders

 I lay in bed --- the window is open --- I am wide awake.  All is still and dark in the house ---all is dark except in the little bedroom down the hall.

A owl hoots in the darkness -- but otherwise all I hear is the chirping of the crickets and my husbands soft breathing.  My thoughts --- or feelings --- go this way and that.  I am happy --- very happy --- because I love with all my being --- the stillness --- the quiet --- of the beautiful thing we call nature.  Just laying there --- listening --- brings a peace to my heart --- that words cannot tell.

But --- down the hall --- in that little bedroom --- are two people that have won our hearts.  As I lay there --- so content --- they are getting dressed -- combing their hair -- making their bed -- and packing their suitcases.  In about a half hour --- they will give us the biggest "Canadian hug" you can get --- pick up their suitcases --two bags --- and walk out our door --- leaving us standing there --- watching ---as they get in the car.  Behind us is the quiet --- the still --- the empty kitchen table --- the ole guitar laying on the floor --- the empty piano bench --- the empty bedroom. 

They are all smiles --- going home after being gone for two weeks.  We don't say good-bye --- just "see you later" --- the windows roll down on their ole white car --- a "I miss you already" flies out to us.  They wave and wave --- honk the horn --- and we wave -- until the car disappears behind the trees.

They are gone --- but not the memories.  That is life --- full of laughing --- sharing --- giving --- music --- and leaving again.  Their ole white car --- goes --- goes --- putting miles --- and miles --- between us.  They cross over the American border --- into the country they call home.  We have not gone --- we are here -- in our little piece of heaven --- but our hearts will be forever in the beautiful land they call home --- Canada.

I am sure that all of you have friends that bring something special into your life.  We have many of them --- but we have never shared with someone across the border until 2002.

It is so special to share with a friend --- A friend that lets you be you -- A friend that knows they can share their deepest heartache's --- their greatest joys with you --- A friend who makes you feel like a million dollars --- A friend that thinks it is fun to "cut weeds out of the bean field" --- or help you overhaul the combine --- or go shopping with your daughter while you stay home --- A friend who sets at the piano while you make breakfast to the tunes of "On Mockingbird Hill" -- "Redwing" --- "The Little Brown Jug" --- "Its Nice to Get Up in The Morning" --- and "The Stars and Strips Forever"   A friend who feels free to make a whole meal in your kitchen.

Maybe that is what makes life really worth living --- sharing your beautiful outdoors and farm with a friend  --- just for a little while.  Then allowing them to go back home --- taking a bit of your heart with them.  Pretty soon --- you have your heart "scattered to the wind" --- in this home and that home --- close and far away --- but home is home -- and I love it.  I love it because its mine --- my safe haven.  I share it because --- I love friends and want to share my happiness with them. 

So we don't say good-bye --- just a "I'll see you later" -- even if it isn't until we meet in that "big convention in the sky."

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