Moment of Nostalgia

I'm having one of those moments. I sat down to my computer for a good stretch of time for probably the first time in weeks. I have work I need to catch up on and surprisingly, a few emails to respond to. A few were from friends back in Bourbonnais. Dear, dear girls who, despite me being younger than most of their children, took me into their leadership group of a women's Bible study at church. I've missed this group dearly since being away and I think in 10-years time I'll still be missing them. Most of the emails were well-wishes for Boo and words of encouragement but it was one of those times when I was missing home to start, so now I'm going to indulge a bit.

Todd and I have great bikes. His is old, I think he's had it since high school. But mine, he found for me at a great little bike shop on the same road in Bradly as the church I worked for during college. Our apartment in Bourbonnais was a bit more than a bit away from anything resembling a sidewalk, but Todd and I would often ride miles and miles when the weather was nice. We'd go to my old soccer coach's house and brave the gale-force winds across the open fields. We'd stop and visit a Bible study gal who would always welcome us in and give our smelly, sweaty selves something to drink. We were even known, on occasion, to ride into Kankakee to the Farmer's Market on a Saturday. I know most of these places are totally foreign to 92% of you who read this thing, but they were special places to me... to Todd and I.

It's spring here. The weather has been great for riding bikes and... well, I'm missing my bike rides. I'm missing the cute little town that we were free to wander and I'm missing the friends we would drop in on when our thirst wouldn't hold much longer. There's something about a small town, to a small-town girl and friends you can just "drop on in" without calling, or texting or scheduling a date beforehand, that I miss. So those of you who know where I'm talking about, the next time you drive by that cute little bike shop on Broadway, or sit and share a drink with a friend who just 'dropped by,' or you go to the Farmer's Market and get that bread that will change your life, remember that those moments are precious. Not ordinary, but totally unique and special, because you're there and able to enjoy it.

**I'm sure at some point, when I'm living somewhere else in the world, I'll be writing all my Jozi friends reminding you to stop and take time for the Bryanston Market with the best mint choc-chip ice cream, or for Mollystraat near Emmerentia when the Jakarandas are all in bloom. I by no means am done with being where I'm at... just appreciating where I've been.**