Furnace on: check

Quilts out: check

Firewood inside: check

All ready for a wintry storm coming in, even as I type. Temps tonight  are too warm for snow, but it may come tomorrow night. Sigh. I love it now but, if this is another early winter, I will be grouchy by February.

Since I am hunkered down successfully against the cold, it is time to reflect on the sudden appearance of two long-lost friends. One, a friend from high school, I have not seen in 34 years. He and his wife showed up in church on Aug 31, with no warning. I was thrilled. We had lunch and then they headed back home to our home state, Ohio.

Last week, a friend I have not seen in about 9 or 10 years, when we both moved from Colorado Springs, found me on Facebook. After exchanging emails we talked on the phone yesterday for nearly an hour. Another great joy.

In both cases, the bond we had instantaneously returned. We talked as if it were only a week since we last saw each other. We laughed, we contemplated life transitions.We talked about other friends from the past.  I was honored and blessed that they took the time to find me. I was surprised by the deep caring I felt.

I thought about the timing. I just turned 60. While traveling alone for 6 weeks I thought about my state of aloneness. I thought about having one son and no other close family. So soon after those musings, I am especially grateful for renewed friendships and a sense of connectedness. Is it a coincidence? I prefer to think otherwise.

I smile now, thinking about how much communications have changed since I used a tin can phone to talk to a friend next door.