I was sitting around one day just thinking about the sheer number of people I’ve met in my lifetime. I’ve probably met and forgotten as many as I actually remember. Point is, I am old enough now to plainly see that people come and people go.  That’s life. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Then, there are people who come and stay. Thankfully, I have some friends like that … met them at different stages of my life and immediately knew they were for the long haul. More so, some are closer than blood relatives. That’s part of life too… people need people. The challenge is often knowing, and settling in your heart, the difference… who is there to stay and who is there for just a season of your life, so you learn and grow.

I believe God orchestrates my steps, and allows me to cross paths with people from all walks of life.  I love that… I have met, interacted with and befriended some of the most incredible people ever.

About a year ago, I visited a new church; just walked in alone and sat down. Just so happened I chose a seat in front of three people, who during the Meet & Greet time introduced themselves. The couple, Mary Ann & Corky were so friendly, and another woman sitting with them, Barbara, was as well, though she seemed a bit more reserved.  Mary Ann told me about the church and invited me back, so the next Sunday I went back.  Needless to say, I go all the time now.  They are some of my new “people”.

I’m giving all this back story because I find it fascinating that you never know how one small change that you make in your life opens a ton of new doors and adventures.

Over the weeks, I started hanging around with these three new friends…. loved it. We went out to eat after church on Sundays. Loved it. After a few weeks, I learned that Barbara was having memory issues but we continued our times together in the same manner for the most part.

However, within six or so months I, and others, started to notice a small change in Barbara. Basically, she just needed a bit more help with things at home, not anything drastic, just more help with things at home.  Her children made sure she had all she needed.

I lived pretty close to her so I started popping over to her place to mostly hang out with her…she was not able to drive anymore so my visits turned into dinners out a couple of times per week, and sitting on the her porch waiting for BunBun to show up (the bunny who nested in her mulch near the front door, whose name was changed to Harriet when Barbara discovered she was a girl..lol), and walking the 1/3 mile loop in her neighborhood for exercise. We texted a lot too… I addressed her as ‘Ms. 🐝’ often in the texts.  Fun times!

Over the weeks it became clear that Ms. 🐝 was going to need a bit more care. She struggled with the idea of moving at first it but everyone reassured her that the new place would be perfect, and she’d have the help she needed.

I am an artist so she mentioned wanting me to draw a picture of her husband, who had passed a decade or so earlier. He was a Marine and from my time with her, I learned he was loved by all. During this transition I asked her to choose the photo she wanted to have drawn for her new home.  She chose this photo of her young Marine husband as he looked when she first met him.

Ms. 🐝 moved in last weekend.  She is doing great! Me, I am missing her company this week. I want her to give her time to acclimate and get used to the new space, new routine, new friends … but I’m missing my riding, shopping, dinner, porch-sitting partner a bit. Sort of a transition for me too. … but like I said in the beginning, that’s life.

I plan to visit her still but things are different now, so I am sure the structure and dynamic of this sweet friendship will change, not fade … but simply change.

God crossed our paths at a crucial time in her life and in mine; so for that, I am thankful.

❤️&✌🏽

Go hug your “people”.🤗💕