Love Thursday: April 24, 2008

The last few weeks, I've had an insane travel schedule -- in three weeks, work obligations have dictated I visit three different cities in three different countries, resulting in me almost literally not knowing which way is up anymore.  (The travel has also made it very difficult for me to keep any semblance of my routine in order, so thanks much to the lovely Tracey for covering for me for Love Thursday last week -- I owe you one, Trace!).  There's still a bit more travel in my future -- my husband and I are off to a friend's wedding in Virginia tomorrow -- but blessedly, after this last trip, I won't have to see the inside of a plane for a while.

While all this travel has been  absolutely exhausting, there have been a few  wonderful bright spots, in the form of connecting with some really  lovely souls I've had the privilege of meeting and knowing in my life.   The first was the opportunity to sit over a delicious cappuccino (shown above) with Andrea, a woman who I met in 2006 at a conference, and with whom I seem to cross cyber-paths often --  not the least of which is here at Shutter Sisters, to which we both contribute.   Our time together last week was the first we'd spent  in person since that first fateful meeting two years ago, and it was as wonderful and refreshing as ever.

The second bright spot was spending time with my friend Rachel, a woman with whom a mutual friend had connected me about 7 years ago, thinking that our personalities would click.  And so true:  we immediately got on like a house on fire, and even though it had been about four years since I'd seen Rachel,  it was like no time had passed.  I left our dinner two nights ago feeling so thoroughly pleased for her happy life, and her bubbly personality lifted my spirits the way they always have.

Finally, after dinner with Rach, I met my friend, Mark, who I hadn't seen in about 9 months.  Mark is my dearest friend, we've known each other for over a decade, and he's the godfather of my daughter.  We sat for hours until the hotel bar kicked us out, and caught up on each other's lives:  my husband and his girlfriend, our jobs, politics, religion, money -- we covered it all, and I was genuinely sad  when our evening ended.

On the flight home Tuesday morning, I realized how lucky I am that I have all these wonderful people in my life.  The intensity of emotion I feel for each varies, yet I feel equally grateful for knowing each of them, and thankful for the gift of friendship they've each shared with me.  I'm a very lucky woman.

 * * * * * * *

Happy Love Thursday, everyone.  Please leave your links of love in the comments section, below -- and check out the beautiful photos by barilynn8 and Nicky Thomas for inspiration.  

And be sure to take a moment to reflect on the friends in your life today.  Because, while I'm sure you know they're important, they're really important, you know?
 

Comments

[LLD]

Happy Love Thursday everybody! :)

Here is mine:
http://whatitdonb.blogspot.com/2008/04/love-thursday_24.html

[kimberly brimhall]

awesome photo missy!

my little madi is feeling the love too:)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/got2bme/2439117096/

[Andie]

http://wifemotherpainter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/04/all-better.html
Happy Love Thursday!

[Sheri]

like minds: http://www.flickr.com/photos/storygoil/2439204426/in/photostream/

[sarah]

I took this and uploaded it to the Flickr group last week but your pic today inspired me to link to it here.

http://flickr.com/photos/51674556@N00/2420819143/

As I said in my note, "I heart coffee." Coffee love counts, doesn't it?

[lizziemarie]

we LOVE mid-western thunderstorms! http://bittersweetloveliness.blogspot.com/http://bittersweetloveliness.blogspot.com/

[lizziemarie]

awww here it is
http://bittersweetloveliness.blogspot.com/

[Erin]

http://greeneyedgirl22.blogspot.com/2008/04/love-thursday_24.html

Happy Love Thursday!!

[Gail Clark]

Just wanted to comment that I came across this amazing site via a link on Kira's blog, kiwords. Seredipity is all I can say here. . . I am currently taking Barbara Samuel's Care and Feeding of the Girls in the Basement class online, trying desperately to rekindle my long-buried artistic self (I'm 54). We are using Artist's Way among other texts. I have become an avid blog reader, and have recently found a number of really inspiring blogs just by clicking around. I have always loved photography, as a viewer, but have never practiced enough to be what I'd call "good" at it. However, just this past weekend I attended an arts festival where I met and talked at length with a couple of really gifted professional photographers (also bought some amazing prints from one), and looked at the brilliant work of dozens of others. I came away knowing that in addition to nurturing my writing muses, photography is the artistic medium that really draws me most and is something I must, must pursue. And lo and behold, just by clicking on Kira's entry today about Love Thursday, I found this delicious site, encouraging women of all skill levels to post photos, look at others' work, and generally just dive into the world of photography in a venue where everyone's work is encouraged and honored. Coincidence? I don't think so! I'm so thankful to have found you. I will be a regular visitor here as I try to read everything and everyone's sites and catch up. Thanks for a fabulous site!

[Sierra]

Here, here. Reconnecting with old friends always recharges my creative batteries!

Here is my Love Thursday contribution: http://heyitssierra.com/blog/2008/04/24/love-thursday-it-grows/

Happy Love Thursday!

[Michelle Potter]

W00t! Today is my birthday and the start of my Project 365! But since I'll probably post my first photo tomorrow, here's one from the archives that always makes me happy:

http://usr-bin-mom.com/index.php?page=entry&id=2153

[Mar]

I just found your blog. But I happen to have posted a heart yesterday!!
Here is
http://maremag.blogspot.com/2008/04/wordless-wednesday-89-heart.html

[Bridge]

http://ridethewavesoflife.blogspot.com/

Here's my contribution!!!

[Sarah]

http://flickr.com/photos/sarahface/2435851873/

Thursdays are fantastic. One more day 'till the weekend!

[Jill]

Getting into momma's make up.
http://livelaughblog.com/2008/04/24/love-thursday-growing-up/

[e-Mom]

Red roses in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park:

http://splashgraphics.typepad.com/splash_graphics/2008/04/red-roses-san-f.html#more

Good friends are a treasure.

Blessings, e-Mom @ Splash*

[nonizamboni]

*loved* your posting about friends--thanks for sharing your thoughts

I've added this for Love Thursday:

http://nonizamboniblue.blogspot.com/2008/04/love-story-thursday.html

[Tammy]

My husband creating a garden creek with a pond.

http://mylifeasawarrior.blogspot.com/2008/04/thursday-love-creating-beauty.html

Happy Love Thursday!

[Christy]

As my friends have grown up, we see each other less and less, but cherish the time we do spend together even more as a result.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdwells711/2439358384/

[Kelly]

My husband and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary last weekend and visited a lovely spot where many have declared their love. That's the theme of my Love Thursday post: http://kellyswritelife.blogspot.com/2008/04/love-thursday-where-are-they-now.html

Happy Love Thursday!

[simply]

love in small places...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22779383@N08/2439958724/

~simply~

[Jane]

My little boy turned 27 today on Love Thursday. I found a garden heart for him.
~jane
http://janeswanson.blogspot.com/search/label/Love%20Thursday

[collette]

there is nothing like friendships. i couldn't imagine life without them. they are oxygen to me.
so glad you had the chance to nurture some of yours. happy you will be able to get some rest from hopping all over the place. xo

http://suidafrikameetsusa.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-do-love-thee.html

[Kelly]

Sorry....my link was messed up when I posted above. Here's the right one: http://kellyswritelife.blogspot.com/2008/04/where-are-they-now.html

[Elizabeth]

For once I actually remembered to take a photo for Love Thursday. Happy Love Thursday!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/esabet/2440196592/

[Lawyer Mama]

I'm a little late, but here's mine!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2439429729/

[Lyn]

I'm very lucky and I know it. Good friends, wonderful family. They hold me up -- and keep me together.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11439752@N04/2439493859/

[xtina]

It's still Thursday in California!

Happy Love Thursday!

http://luckynumbreight.blogspot.com/2008/04/love-thursday-brothers.html

[Lisl Sukachevin]

Here's a shot I took the other night of my son holding a glow stick:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73718243@N00/2430146242/

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