| Reconnecting through the hurdles of distance and | | | | relationships, once formed, is logistically arduous. But |
| time is never easy. It involves travel. Interruptions to | | | | once committed to the idea, making the effort to |
| busy schedules, alterations in the normal routines of | | | | reconnect becomes an inspired process. Ensuring that |
| family life and unforeseeable frustrations as things, | | | | the logistical details will take you safely there become |
| along the way, go awry. | | | | worth every ounce of the struggle. |
| Such was the case this weekend when my husband | | | | Children grow and reconnections to their life-shaping |
| and I made a quick trip to Miami for a fundraising gala | | | | forces and faces must be re-kindled. How's your |
| supporting one of our favorite organizations. The | | | | daughter doing? Where is she applying to college? |
| invitation had been on our calendars for weeks, but | | | | When's the new baby due? What's going on in your |
| as the date approached, we wondered how in the | | | | business? How's your mom? Did you get through |
| heck we were going to be able to logistically | | | | that awful physical therapy? Have you recovered |
| re-shuffle an already-bewildering matrix of work; | | | | from your surgery? We share common struggles, |
| football games; an out-of-state orchestra retreat for | | | | questions and dilemmas. Three sets of parents |
| one of our kids; and dog care, lawn care and child | | | | waiting for cars outside the valet area all shared in |
| care. Add to the equation delayed flights both there | | | | the common experience of raising fourteen-year-old |
| and back (weather problems on the way and | | | | daughters. Two other moms and I commiserated |
| mechanical trouble on the way back), and one stands | | | | about the college application process. Complaining |
| amazed that anyone can pull off reconnecting at all. | | | | about the real estate market and where we might |
| But oh my, few things beat reconnecting with old | | | | settle in retirement were other common topics of |
| friends! My drive from the airport to the hotel was | | | | conversation. |
| made easier by a phone call to an old Miami friend; | | | | Keeping relationships alive provides nourishment for |
| breakfast was a celebration with my cousin and her | | | | our souls. Refreshment for our spirits. Continuation of |
| husband; and the gala itself was one huge reunion | | | | ideals. Succession of friendships. |
| with friends we hadn't seen since our move three | | | | I've been blessed these past few weeks by more |
| years ago back to New England. The complete | | | | than my share of wonderful reconnections: with my |
| change in countenance on our fearless leader's face | | | | sister and her family in North Carolina for a quick |
| when he saw my husband and I enter the ballroom | | | | lunch en route to vacation; with my oldest friend and |
| made the entire travel ritual worth it. Arms extended | | | | her family in Pennsylvania while working on my book; |
| wide, warm kisses to both cheeks and long | | | | next weekend will take me to D.C. to a conference |
| reconnecting conversation was all I really needed. I | | | | where I'll reconnect with friends made over the past |
| could have left at that point, without even eating the | | | | decade of almost-yearly attendance. |
| scrumptious awaiting spread; his embrace alone did it | | | | Especially as we struggle to just get through the daily |
| for me. | | | | responsibilities of motherhood, with toddler's needs |
| Many of us do not enjoy the indulgence of one | | | | matched by those of busy spouses, with home and |
| home base, surrounded by family and friends of | | | | work demands matched by those of community |
| decades-long journeys shared. We bounce around | | | | service, it's important to factor in reconnecting--at an |
| counties and countries, in and out of homes and | | | | intimate level or on one less complicated--to ensure |
| neighborhoods and friendships at dizzying paces. Gone | | | | that the cycles of life will be shared with those |
| are the days of one employer, one school district and | | | | whom we love. That rituals will continue for our |
| one set of girlfriends. We settle down one year only | | | | lifetimes and perhaps even for those of our children. |
| to uproot the next, ushering kids and spouses into | | | | That connecting--and reconnecting--will carry us on |
| strange communities with perplexing new | | | | into the unspoken joys that bring beauty and |
| realities--and strange people--to match. Keeping up | | | | meaning into everyday life. |