A Visit from Hollie

So what if you haven't seen someone in 11 years... should it really make that much of a difference? If two people connect on an emotional level, the friendship should feel the same whether it has been 11 days or 11 years - right? Hopefully? So I was thrilled to reconnect with Hollie (through the Facebook connection) and hear that she wanted to visit. Hollie was one of my "kids" in Wiesbaden, Germany many years ago. I was her "Young Life/Club Beyond/youth leader" and we spent many days traveling around Europe - Romanian orphanages, Italian beaches, the Birkenstock factory, downtown Wiesbaden, camping, encouraging her that she will be just fine rappelling down a mountain during a rainstorm and brushing off SMALL scapes after she said she was hit by a car on a bike ride (she might have been brushed by it, but I still think the word HIT is a little extreme).

Now Hollie is no longer a 14 year old like when I met her, she is a card carrying GROWN UP - with a real job and a real grown up life. She lives in Knoxville and was considering moving to Colorado. It was great to have her come visit and spend some time catching up for the past decade. I went with her to Boudler where I introduced her to a Colorado addiction - the Warren Miller Ski Film. It just happened to be showing to sold out crowds in the historic Boulder Theater. And at one point I felt a little like her leader again - we were driving from Nederland (home of the Frozed Dead Guy Festival) on the Peak to Peak Highway and she got a little stressed by the 80 mph winds and ice... "Don't worry about it - you'll be fine..." I said. A total flashback to the many times I told her that when she was a teenager.I also tried to impress upon her that proper foot attire is required in Colorado. Here I am in snow boots - here she is in sandals.

She tried to impress upon me the importance of coffee in the morning. And after graciously drinking my very poor espresso that takes me 30 minutes to make on the stove every morning, she bought me a coffee pot. Seriously - this was a big time hit for the kids! Everyone had to help and two weeks later Piper is still begging to help make coffee.

What a fun time it was to see Hollie. I forgot that NO ONE can laugh like Hollie (that is my biggest memory of her from High School - Hollie laughing hysterically). We looked through a box of old pictures and it reminded me of this very special group of kids that were so important in my life. And I am thankful to have such a loving and generous person come back into my life.

And now there will always be a fresh pot of coffee waiting for Hollie's next visit.