Pleasant Surprises
While Beth finished getting ready for the day, I was scouting out the breakfast the Hampton had to offer. Suddenly a lady stopped in front of me, gave me that studying look and said, "Chuck! What are you doing here?" I replied, "Marsha, what are doing in Alliance?" She explained that she and her husband, Roger, were on their way to Michigan to visit their son and daughter-in-law, and that Alliance was about half-way from Baltimore. Some friends of theirs also live in Alliance and they had been visiting them as well.
I worked with Marsha B. when I was with The Salvation Army Maryland & West Virginia Division in Baltimore. And it turns out, they were visiting Miranda R. and her husband in Alliance. I also worked with Miranda at The Salvation Army. I explained that we were here for campmeeting starting in a couple weeks. It was quite a joy to come upon a friend and colleague in such an unexpected place.
The second pleasant surprise of the day was our Tiger Lilies on the south side of our cottage at Sebring Camp. As you can see from the photo, they are enjoying the noonday sun.
Finally, as Beth and I said good-bye to Marsha and Roger, I asked her to remember me to Miranda the next time she spoke with her. She explained they were going then to say good-bye to them before heading on up to Michigan. Later that afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a Facebook friend request from Miranda.
Perhaps you, too, have experienced that good feeling when a friend from yesteryear suddenly appears or reaches out to say hello. Friendships renewed remind me that life has been good, that the past was real, and that there are plenty of reasons for the hope of good things to come.
After all, the Tiger Lilies are blooming again!
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