Just when you need it

I love to be in touch with people- always have. I wasn't always so aware of it, though. But one time, a friend said to me- I wish I could be a people person like you.
Which literally took my breath away. Because I'm shy by nature (at least I feel shy) and people can intimidate me fairly easily. But I also find people easy to love. And easy to be fascinated by.
Recently, I had a couple weeks in Estonia, waiting on a visa. A good friend's (Friend A) parents are there. And another friend's parents have a small studio apartment just down the road from the first couple. (The studio is often empty as it serves as a stop off place for many people, including the owners.) So, the sound of the studio apt sounded appealing and luxurious and 'ahhh- like a nice soak in a sea-salt-with-essential-oils-bath'. But it was already booked. And Friend A tells me that, truly, I'd be more than welcome to stay in his parent's guest room.
So, I book myself in there. And they were kind and gracious in their welcome. They met my flight. Took me home, fed me, tucked me in for the night, told me to sleep as much as I could (I was trying to sleep off a virus, actually).
And really, in spite of the fact that the studio apt really had sounded inviting (I like alone time sometimes) I was also looking forward to being with the other folks. Partly because their child is my good friend, of course, but also partly because, I realized, I really do love to be with people. I do.
And I find that rather amazing. Because I still think of myself as fairly shy and easily intimidated.

Anyway- here's the thing. Those 2 weeks with that couple- it was better than a 'nice soak in a sea-salt-with-essential-oils-bath'. We talked about anything and everything. We covered the funny, the sad, the serious, the painful, the happy, the encouraging. And I think I needed that more than I knew.
I wish you all the 'nice soak in a sea-salt-with-essential-oils-bath' when you need it! And I've noticed that I always get one when I most need it...whether I knew I needed it or not.

xo

New Friends and Old

I was all checked-in and roaming around the back side of the airport...or the front side if you consider that all the plate glass windows are on that side. Small terminal, 1 place to get coffee, no place to get sandwiches, 1 place to get expensive drinking water but 3 places to get perfume, alcohol, tobacco and chocolates- and I see this little dude. With whom I fell in love back in Germany about 11 years ago. Oh my... and it's still yummy. My ear drums needed it on the flight, I can tell you. My poor virus affected underwater eardrums.




And then I was roaming a grocery store in Tallinn, Estonia, just to see what I could see. And I found this guy. Oh my. Almond and white chocolate granola bar. Take it from me, It is SOOO worth the calories!










I'm not sure this qualifies as a friend as I'm not all that fond of them, actually. But I was roaming another grocery store tonight when I realized I was looking at very familiar packaging. It put a grin on my face and made me feel sort of warm and fuzzy inside. Jelly candies from Roshen. Which is a Ukrainian confectionery. The best in the country as far as I'm concerned. And here they're selling it in Estonia! Mind you, Roshen chocolate is really where it's at. That stuff is so good, you'll never want Hershey's again if you get the chance to eat Roshen. Or at least that's what I think! ;)