Never found the wild horses, but found so much more!

I can not do justice to the wonderful four days I had with my college buddies in a simple blog entry.

Suffice it to say, I'm ecstatic God gave me my dearest friends and a perfect weekend to spend with all of them.

I must say, my flight was so early I never went to bed...that was interesting!

I really thought my trip was doomed from the start by a few daunting signs.

As I was traveling to the airport, I thought, "hmm, did I close the garage?" I could not go back. It was before 5am in the morning so all I could do was text my neighbor and hope that when he got the text, he'd check the garage and he'd find it closed!

Believe it or not, there were quite a few folks gathering at Cleveland Hopkins Airport at 530am bright eyed and bushy-tailed!

I ran into the sister of a dear friend, which brightened my spirits and assured me that the weekend would be a success.

Then my second sign almost shattered me.

While sitting on the plane waiting for take off, my rosary busted into 3 pieces. I was sure we were going down.

The cross and 2 other chunks just came apart.

Being superstitious, I tried keeping positive. Come on, I like Friday the 13th, black cats, and horoscopes. This could only be a good sign of better things to come.

And it was.....

Surrounded by 8 people who I love like family and would do anything for and who in turn loved me for me and not what I did for a living, what I drove, where I lived, whether I wore designer clothes or the good will special, or my 'voluptuous' figure....

The flights were bearable. The clouds fascinating. For those who do not believe in a higher being, just take a look at Mother Nature's cloud formations.

My first stop was almost instant. There was no layover. I immediately had to race to the next gate which gave me a Charley Horse in my left leg --but I had 4 days to nurse it back to health!

I was so proud to pass a Hugo Boss store in the Newark Airport with all the press we've given them in Cleveland over the recent months.

As many of you know, I'm the biggest Cleveland cheerleader, but I am sorely disappointed in Cleveland's airport. I have traveled all over the world and it seems every airport is much better than CLE.

CLE has a Dunkin' Donuts where two people can share a good bye.

A whole slew of other airports have real restaurants where you can sit down with your loved one, share a meal, share a final moment before you have to go through security and be on your way. CLE --you've let me down!

Next stop: Norfolk.

I was humbled and speechless with a tear in my eye as I walked thru the Norfolk Airport seeing soldiers meeting their loved ones, saying goodbye to their families.

I just about burst into tears knowing that these brave Americans were on their way to protect my security or had just come back from defending the United States of America.

Grabbed my rental car which had Sirius Radio. Oh, the rosary incident is only bringing good fortune my friends!

And I am on my way on this beautiful morning for the Outer Banks of North Carolina!

A wonderful drive. I arrived before anyone and had extra time to sight see, soak in the sun, grab a bite to eat at a local mom and pop restaurant (especially since I had not eaten in nearly 14 hours), take pictures, and drive along the beach.

I called home to tell them I arrived safely and make sure if anything happened to my Uncle, they would call.

The next 4 days consisted of sun, sand, the beach, cocktails, love, laughter, beautiful sunsets, sightseeing, delicious meals, shell collecting, picture-taking, catching up, rest, relaxation, no work, no cantoring, getting up when I wanted to, and trying to gain a little of my sanity back!

The only unnerving moment was stories up at the top of the light house looking out at a breathtaking view and Tim's camera case plunging down to the ground. My knees quite weak and I had to get my sea legs back.

One night we searched high and low driving on the beach for the elusive 'wild horses.' They continued eluding us but I found something much greater: the reassurance that these people I had surrounded myself with the entire weekend love me more than I knew and they would be there for me forever as I for them!

Tug of War

I've got this Tug of War going with myself, believe it or not.

I'm supposed to be meeting with 5 of my dearest college friends this weekend in a mini-reunion which we've had planned since last July really, yet my Uncle seems to be getting a bit worse every single day.

Everyone, and I mean everyone says 'GO!'

My Aunt even consulted with one of my Uncle's doctors asking his advice & professional opinion and the doctor said 'tell her to go.'

If something were to happen, I have no regrets.

I am so close to my Aunt and Uncle....spend time with them.....after Mom, they were my 2nd set of parents my entire life.

Every since my Uncle has been in and out of the hospital over the last month, I've gone to see him as much as I could.

My friends tell me this will be a much needed time to re-charge my battery--and they want to see me!

How can I resist that argument --hardly ANYONE says "I really want to see you" anymore in my life.

OK, sold! I've briefed the appropriate people as to where I will be, how to reach me, I'm just a plane ride away, and God forbid, if something happens to me, what to do.

Riding off into the sunset for a few days, peeps....and hope to have some amazing stories to tell when I return!

It's like we were never apart

Amazing.

I know many say this word is overused.

At this time, it is the only word I can verbalize and it still does not adequately describe the weekend I experienced with my best college friends.

My roommate Melanie and our friend Jim choreographed the entire weekend.

I had family obligations much of Friday but drove out to Catawba as soon as I finished up and made sure all the ducks were in a row on the home front.

I must admit, I was on. I left no stone overturned back home and no stone overturned at the Lake House.

The gang back home had enough food, treats, straightened house, an itinerary, and just about everything they needed to have a fabulous weekend without me and my overbearing organizational prowess.

Though I was going to be gone 2 days, my car was fully stocked, completely filled with clothes, memorabilia, 'goodies,' coolers, music, boom box, flowers and so much more.

I can not relay the feeling of liberation that came over me as I started driving out to the Lake on a beautiful Friday night with my Sirius radio blasting and the wind blowing through my hair.

Believe it or not, I had not had a bite to eat as I made my way west, but I thought of that too, and had cut up an apple in a ziploc baggie and had a few bottles of juice to make sure I had some sustenance for the long ride.

I really do not know what came over me. I was not worried about back home and was not afraid or anxious about the unknown in my weekend ahead.

I have seen most of these friends on a semi regular basis. There was one friend none of us had seen in 22 years. WOW! I can not even fathom that I have known these wonderful people for 26 years. And I truly love them all.

It would not be a weekend with college friends without contact issues. As I cruised west on Rte 2, my contact got all crazy and I had to take it out and then it was not properly in my eye for a few minutes while I contemplated what to do. As usual, it all worked out. I lost more contacts in my 4 years at college!

Just a heavenly weekend. Perfect weather. Jamming to Springsteen and the 80's to get me psyched even more for this long time coming reunion.

The drive time seemed to fly.

Finally when I approached the causeway, my adrenalin really started to skyrocket knowing I was mere minutes away from seeing my dearest friends in the whole wide world.

I weaved around the marina, looking, counting streets, looking for the reddish /brown shutters.

I did not need to do that. All at once I hear a loud scream of my college nickname almost driving off into the Lake.

I had arrived. I was home. I was among my dearest friends on this earth and in store for what turned out to be the best weekend I have had in a loooooong, looooooong time!

We picked up right where we left off 22 years ago.

It was as if we were never apart.