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!

Bittersweet goodbye

Well, my best friend in the whole wide world, Craig, went back to FLA yesterday.

We have a love-hate relationship at times.

One of my worst attributes is being very judgemental (because I am always right!!).

I tell him he is so predictable. He has the same drill every day, and the same sequence of events the day he arrives in town and beyond.

However, one event that is so predictable time after time after time is when you have to say goodbye to someone.

This time, his visit went by kind of slowly, which was a blessing.

But a few days before he was set to take off, melancholy set in, the time sped up, and there was a sadness in the air even though he was still here.

These are the winding down days when I am actually as predictable as my friend.

You can never quite perfect saying goodbye.

And for me, it's never a happy series of events.

I want to spend as much time with him as I can but know he really should spend the bulk of the time with his mother, whom he will not see for, who knows how long.

Then departure day. Very predictable. I should judge myself and brow beat myself for the 'ground hog day' mentality of this particular day.

You know it's gonna come, but it's never easy.

The empty, blah feeling swarms in and you just can't shake it.

I usually get up, sing at Church and then right afterward, we'll have brunch and I'll whisk him off to the airport.

Cleveland's airport leaves a lot to be desired at this present time, and there is no place to grab a bite or visit. But I want to hold on to the moment just a bit longer so I walk inside with him and we grab a few chairs and just visit for a few minutes more.

Finally, it's that dreaded moment when he has to walk through security, which I am banned from without a ticket.

I wait. I watch. I wave.

He moves a few more people.

I wait. I watch. I wave.

Finally, he's out of sight and I must snap back into harsh reality trying to savor the sweet sendoff and rely on the enjoyable memories until, hopefully, one day we greet each other again.