Today, a day I've been anxiously awaiting for weeks, has come and gone. It's 1:30 am on Thursday the 5th of April and I am so very sad that the time has gone by so quickly.
Yesterday (Wednesday), we hovered close to the phone for most of the day, hoping it would ring and we'd pick it up to hear our dear friends from Australia on the other end. When lunch time arrived and we still hadn't heard from them, we began to get a bit concerned for their welfare.
"I hope they didn't have an accident", Bobby remarked. He had taken two days off from work to spend with Steve and Libby Becsi (pronounced "Bear-chi"), and had just finished hosing off the deck, the back patio, and the front porch to get rid of the yellow plague, as I like to call it. Thank the Lord for the rain this last week - by keeping the pollen count down, it's the only thing that saved our sinuses.
I tried to go about my usual routine, but with each passing hour, I was getting increasingly antsy and worried. When Libby had called two weeks ago, she had let us know the two days they would be here, but she didn't let me know whether they would be coming from the North or the South. In true Aussie fashion, they had planned a large travel circuit of the United States to try and give their two teen girls an across-the-board taste of America. Each of the four of them had chosen a particular place they really wanted to see: Steve chose New Orleans; Libby wanted to visit the Amish; and for the girls, it was a no-brainer . . . Disney World!
At last contact, we had only discussed when they would be at our house, but had forgotten to talk about when they would get to the States, what their itinerary would be, etc. So, we waited in that 'are they or aren't they' kind of limbo.
At last the phone rang at about 3:00 pm and I recognized the overseas number on my caller ID. Sure enough it was Libby explaining that they had been in a traffic jam caused by a terrible car accident just about five miles north of Williamsburg. They'd been stuck for hours, but were finally through the bottleneck and headed our way. And by the way, could I give them our address for their GPS? Libby had left it in her address book back in Western Australia. I laughed out loud - I knew Steve must have gone through the roof when Libby told him that one!
I started dinner (spaghetti and salad), and it was about 4:30 pm when we heard someone laying on their car horn in front of the house. Of course, it was Steve & Libby who were already out of the car by the time I reached the front door. The dogs went crazy to have company, and Libby told me, "The girls said they weren't getting out of the car, just in case we had the wrong house. I told them that it had to be the house because the Australian flag was flying out front!" Then I saw that Bobby had displayed it alongside Old Glory on our front porch to help them find our address. It worked perfectly!
Hugs and kisses all around. It was so very good to see them in person. Of course, they didn't have any children when they left over 20 years ago, so getting a warm embrace from them was a real treat. They are beautiful young ladies and a tribute to their parents' love, care, and Christian up-bringing.
Into the house and so much to talk about, catch up on, and lots and lots to share about the last 21 years. While I finish the dinner salad, Bobby takes the girls out on the back deck and shows them how to shoot our BB rifle. In Australia, no one is allowed to own a gun except law enforcement, so Hannah & Moriah have never seen a gun, much less fired one. I was surprised at their sense of adventure as they took aim at the empty tomato can Bobby had placed on the chicken run fence post. I had invited Rexanne Nash to spend the night with the girls, and she quickly became their tutor in how to shoot, something that comes naturally to her as a member of a "hunting" family. She had Hannah and Moriah hitting the can in no time flat. It was fun to watch them and I snapped a couple of pictures of the trio of Annie Oakleys taking aim.
Trying to get dinner finished, Libby and I chatted up a storm - literally! A thunderstorm came roaring through, sending the sharpshooters into the living room to watch TV. Bobby & Steve sat out on the front porch, watching the ominous clouds roll in until it became too windy and the lighting got too close. But watching them sitting out there, engaged in masculine dialogue, made both Libby and me remark how it seemed like we had never been apart for a single moment. It brought back so many great memories.
Dinner was great, made more awesome by the fresh-baked bread and fresh coconut cake brought by two friends who wanted to bless our time with our old friends. Steve raved over the bread because it tasted more like the bread in Australia. They think America's white bread is more like cake because it's too sweet and fluffy (something I totally agree with!). Steve said, "Please tell your friend that we're very grateful for the awesome bread! This is the best we've had since we arrived two and a half weeks ago!" So there you go, Loretta . . . They LOVED it!!!
Coconut cake dessert (Mmmmmm!). Another hit! It was just right, Janice, and even one of the girls remarked that she didn't care much for coconut, but absolutely loved your cake! As my Aussie friends would say, "Good on ya, Jan!" (Special kudos to Loretta and Janice for offering their tasty wares! So very much appreciated, girls!)
We lingered at the dinner table, totally rapt in the intimate conversation, retelling old stories we shared together, catching each other up on our life events over the last two decades. I realized just how good God had been to both families over the years.
Now, with an 18-year old son in college here in the States, and two girls (Hannah, 16 and Moriah, 14), we could see just how Steve and Libby had grown and matured; a good and solid marriage, three well-balanced children, success in their careers. Steve was still his same A-type, finely-focused personality, but had definitely mellowed with age. His pride in his family was obvious as his eyes would shine any time he talked about them.
Libby was still her same sweet and gentile self, but more confident and settled in her role as a wife and mother. Like most women who have remained married for two decades, it was obvious that she understood her husband's personality and knew how to "work around" it, not taking everything personally as she did when they were first married. Both seemed well-rounded and happy with their lives.
Everyone finally retired to the living room to watch a movie, while Libby and I finished up the dishes and then settled in my office with a "cupper" (a cup of hot tea) to have some 'girlie' time. We talked well into the night, sharing our interests, passions, and insights. Like always, we are so similar in our likes and dislikes, our observations, and outlook on life, kids, marriage, and serving God. It intrigued me that 20 years on separate continents half a world apart had not made a single dent in our relationship. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with this faithful friendship. It has been a very safe harbor of acceptance and understanding, even after all these years and the distance between us. It makes the world a lot less scary place knowing that somewhere in it, there are hearts that hold you close in the deepest kind of real love.
Libby finally gave up at 1:30 am, but I wasn't ready to let go of the emotions I was feeling. And so I began recording this journal of the day. 2:30 am, I couldn't keep my eyes open another second.
I awakened around 9:00 am, quickly cleaned up and got dressed and headed downstairs. Steve and Bobby were up, of course (those silly early-to-bed, early-to-risers!), and enjoying a chat over coffee. Libby was just awakening and disappeared into the guest bath to get dressed.
I scrambled up a dozen-and-a-half eggs with sharp cheddar and we made toast from Ms. Loretta's awesome bread that was eagerly spread with butter and some delicious strawberry spread. It was so awesome just looking around the table with so many beloved folks sitting, eating, and joyously beginning their day together. I grabbed my camera to take some photos and Bobby even took some so I could get in the frame.
Libby cleaned up the kitchen while the girls stretched out on the living room floor with the dogs to finish watching a movie. The men disappeared somewhere, and I began putting together a travel bag with healthy drinks, snacks, trail mix, and dried fruit for their trip down to Georgia to see their son, Caleb. The precious moments with them were dwindling and I felt so sad that it was coming to an end much too quickly.
Steve then began setting into motion all the activity required to pack their bags and load them into the car. It didn't take them long, and suddenly Bobby was saying, "I'll be back shortly, hon. I'm just going to show them where to gas up and then get some Starbucks."
WHAT!!!! Did he really believe that I would give up one precious second with my buddies while he showed them how to get out of town??? The nerve of him, leaving me behind while he got more time with them!!!!
"OH, NO YOU DON'T! I'M COMING TOO!", I shouted. "C'mon, Sharon. Hop in with us", Libby replied. I jumped into their vehicle, grateful to extend our time together, even if it was just for another 20-30 minutes.
We chatted non-stop while Steve filled the car up. He had a bit of trouble finding a pump and Libby said, "That's okay, Steve. Waiting for a pump just means we get to be with Sharon a few minutes longer". She was feeling the same dread of parting company as I was.
From the Hess station on Route 17N, we headed for the Farm Fresh for some coffee/tea and, at Hannah's request, a "chook". She was wanting some chicken to take on the road and picked up a rotisseried broiler.
We walked back to the cars in the parking lot, steeling ourselves for our final goodbyes. Hugs all around, just the same as when they arrived. We couldn't say "I love you" enough. It was hard to let go from embracing them, as if keeping our arms around each other could stop the inevitable. And then it happened . . . both girls said, "Goodbye, Granny Sharon". What an emotional high! It couldn't have gotten any better.
Finally, the end had come. The visit was over. We led them back to 17S and they followed us until we turned onto Forman-Bundy Road. I snapped a photo of Libby waving goodbye and then watched their SUV roll on down the road until I could no longer see them. It was hard to keep the tears from welling up.
It was quiet in the house and so I sit here to finish this blog. They will be on the road for seven hours to Savannah, Georgia where Caleb attends university. He has a soccer game tonight and they will arrive just in time to sit in the stands.
From there, they head to Florida to catch their plane back to the Land Down Under, a 30-hour flight. All tolled, they will have traveled over 7,000 miles in a wide circle, from Disney World in Florida, to New Orleans, out to the Grand Canyon, back East to visit the Amish in Pennsylvania, and then to us, Caleb, and back to Florida. This was all done in two and a half weeks, a normal feat for Australians. They are so used to traveling long stretches and taking in all the sights in just hours. I'll never forget asking them to come over for a cookout during the weekend and having Libby say, "Oh, sorry Sharon. We're going to Maine for the weekend." Richmond, Virginia to Maine in a weekend!!!??? We still laugh about that one, but they did it.
So, now it's all another warm and fuzzy memory. The only upside is that Libby promised they'd be back in another year or so for Caleb's graduation, and promised that next time they'd stay for at least a week. So while, as Shakespeare so poignantly put it, parting is such sweet sorrow, I now look forward to that next visit when we get to spend some quality time with each other. Who knows . . . we may even surprise them with a visit?!
Can't wait!!!
Yesterday (Wednesday), we hovered close to the phone for most of the day, hoping it would ring and we'd pick it up to hear our dear friends from Australia on the other end. When lunch time arrived and we still hadn't heard from them, we began to get a bit concerned for their welfare.
"I hope they didn't have an accident", Bobby remarked. He had taken two days off from work to spend with Steve and Libby Becsi (pronounced "Bear-chi"), and had just finished hosing off the deck, the back patio, and the front porch to get rid of the yellow plague, as I like to call it. Thank the Lord for the rain this last week - by keeping the pollen count down, it's the only thing that saved our sinuses.
I tried to go about my usual routine, but with each passing hour, I was getting increasingly antsy and worried. When Libby had called two weeks ago, she had let us know the two days they would be here, but she didn't let me know whether they would be coming from the North or the South. In true Aussie fashion, they had planned a large travel circuit of the United States to try and give their two teen girls an across-the-board taste of America. Each of the four of them had chosen a particular place they really wanted to see: Steve chose New Orleans; Libby wanted to visit the Amish; and for the girls, it was a no-brainer . . . Disney World!
At last contact, we had only discussed when they would be at our house, but had forgotten to talk about when they would get to the States, what their itinerary would be, etc. So, we waited in that 'are they or aren't they' kind of limbo.
At last the phone rang at about 3:00 pm and I recognized the overseas number on my caller ID. Sure enough it was Libby explaining that they had been in a traffic jam caused by a terrible car accident just about five miles north of Williamsburg. They'd been stuck for hours, but were finally through the bottleneck and headed our way. And by the way, could I give them our address for their GPS? Libby had left it in her address book back in Western Australia. I laughed out loud - I knew Steve must have gone through the roof when Libby told him that one!
I started dinner (spaghetti and salad), and it was about 4:30 pm when we heard someone laying on their car horn in front of the house. Of course, it was Steve & Libby who were already out of the car by the time I reached the front door. The dogs went crazy to have company, and Libby told me, "The girls said they weren't getting out of the car, just in case we had the wrong house. I told them that it had to be the house because the Australian flag was flying out front!" Then I saw that Bobby had displayed it alongside Old Glory on our front porch to help them find our address. It worked perfectly!
 |
| Rexanne Instructs |
Into the house and so much to talk about, catch up on, and lots and lots to share about the last 21 years. While I finish the dinner salad, Bobby takes the girls out on the back deck and shows them how to shoot our BB rifle. In Australia, no one is allowed to own a gun except law enforcement, so Hannah & Moriah have never seen a gun, much less fired one. I was surprised at their sense of adventure as they took aim at the empty tomato can Bobby had placed on the chicken run fence post. I had invited Rexanne Nash to spend the night with the girls, and she quickly became their tutor in how to shoot, something that comes naturally to her as a member of a "hunting" family. She had Hannah and Moriah hitting the can in no time flat. It was fun to watch them and I snapped a couple of pictures of the trio of Annie Oakleys taking aim.
 |
| The 3 Annie Oakleys |
Dinner was great, made more awesome by the fresh-baked bread and fresh coconut cake brought by two friends who wanted to bless our time with our old friends. Steve raved over the bread because it tasted more like the bread in Australia. They think America's white bread is more like cake because it's too sweet and fluffy (something I totally agree with!). Steve said, "Please tell your friend that we're very grateful for the awesome bread! This is the best we've had since we arrived two and a half weeks ago!" So there you go, Loretta . . . They LOVED it!!!
Coconut cake dessert (Mmmmmm!). Another hit! It was just right, Janice, and even one of the girls remarked that she didn't care much for coconut, but absolutely loved your cake! As my Aussie friends would say, "Good on ya, Jan!" (Special kudos to Loretta and Janice for offering their tasty wares! So very much appreciated, girls!)
We lingered at the dinner table, totally rapt in the intimate conversation, retelling old stories we shared together, catching each other up on our life events over the last two decades. I realized just how good God had been to both families over the years.
Now, with an 18-year old son in college here in the States, and two girls (Hannah, 16 and Moriah, 14), we could see just how Steve and Libby had grown and matured; a good and solid marriage, three well-balanced children, success in their careers. Steve was still his same A-type, finely-focused personality, but had definitely mellowed with age. His pride in his family was obvious as his eyes would shine any time he talked about them.
Libby was still her same sweet and gentile self, but more confident and settled in her role as a wife and mother. Like most women who have remained married for two decades, it was obvious that she understood her husband's personality and knew how to "work around" it, not taking everything personally as she did when they were first married. Both seemed well-rounded and happy with their lives.
Everyone finally retired to the living room to watch a movie, while Libby and I finished up the dishes and then settled in my office with a "cupper" (a cup of hot tea) to have some 'girlie' time. We talked well into the night, sharing our interests, passions, and insights. Like always, we are so similar in our likes and dislikes, our observations, and outlook on life, kids, marriage, and serving God. It intrigued me that 20 years on separate continents half a world apart had not made a single dent in our relationship. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with this faithful friendship. It has been a very safe harbor of acceptance and understanding, even after all these years and the distance between us. It makes the world a lot less scary place knowing that somewhere in it, there are hearts that hold you close in the deepest kind of real love.
Libby finally gave up at 1:30 am, but I wasn't ready to let go of the emotions I was feeling. And so I began recording this journal of the day. 2:30 am, I couldn't keep my eyes open another second.
I awakened around 9:00 am, quickly cleaned up and got dressed and headed downstairs. Steve and Bobby were up, of course (those silly early-to-bed, early-to-risers!), and enjoying a chat over coffee. Libby was just awakening and disappeared into the guest bath to get dressed.
 |
| Scrambled Egg Breakfast |
Libby cleaned up the kitchen while the girls stretched out on the living room floor with the dogs to finish watching a movie. The men disappeared somewhere, and I began putting together a travel bag with healthy drinks, snacks, trail mix, and dried fruit for their trip down to Georgia to see their son, Caleb. The precious moments with them were dwindling and I felt so sad that it was coming to an end much too quickly.
 |
| Repacking the Car |
WHAT!!!! Did he really believe that I would give up one precious second with my buddies while he showed them how to get out of town??? The nerve of him, leaving me behind while he got more time with them!!!!
"OH, NO YOU DON'T! I'M COMING TOO!", I shouted. "C'mon, Sharon. Hop in with us", Libby replied. I jumped into their vehicle, grateful to extend our time together, even if it was just for another 20-30 minutes.
We chatted non-stop while Steve filled the car up. He had a bit of trouble finding a pump and Libby said, "That's okay, Steve. Waiting for a pump just means we get to be with Sharon a few minutes longer". She was feeling the same dread of parting company as I was.
 |
| A Last Round of Coffee & Tea |
 |
| Goodbye, Mates |
 |
| One Last Farewell |
It was quiet in the house and so I sit here to finish this blog. They will be on the road for seven hours to Savannah, Georgia where Caleb attends university. He has a soccer game tonight and they will arrive just in time to sit in the stands.
From there, they head to Florida to catch their plane back to the Land Down Under, a 30-hour flight. All tolled, they will have traveled over 7,000 miles in a wide circle, from Disney World in Florida, to New Orleans, out to the Grand Canyon, back East to visit the Amish in Pennsylvania, and then to us, Caleb, and back to Florida. This was all done in two and a half weeks, a normal feat for Australians. They are so used to traveling long stretches and taking in all the sights in just hours. I'll never forget asking them to come over for a cookout during the weekend and having Libby say, "Oh, sorry Sharon. We're going to Maine for the weekend." Richmond, Virginia to Maine in a weekend!!!??? We still laugh about that one, but they did it.
So, now it's all another warm and fuzzy memory. The only upside is that Libby promised they'd be back in another year or so for Caleb's graduation, and promised that next time they'd stay for at least a week. So while, as Shakespeare so poignantly put it, parting is such sweet sorrow, I now look forward to that next visit when we get to spend some quality time with each other. Who knows . . . we may even surprise them with a visit?!
Can't wait!!!
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