A Weekend in Connecticut

I recently made a trip to Connecticut to see my best friends, whom I had not seen in over a year and a half since we all left grad school! I cannot even begin to tell you the excitement I felt as the plane lowered into Bradley International Airport! I quickly made my way to the baggage claim and out the doors to the pick-up area. The hardest part of the entire trip was finding Trista's car! Unlike most airports, there was a line of cars parked to pick up passengers---just waiting for long spells without a care in the world.

I screamed with joy as I saw my friend and ran towards her. We hugged and quickly hopped back in the car. It was late, and we were ready to get home, change, and sit and chat! We ate a rather healthy, but late dinner of grilled chix and tomatoes, and we up til midnight catching up! We didn't get it all done in that time though, to be sure.

When I awoke the next morning, it was to a glorious sunny day! Perfect for our plans to walk around downtown West Hartford, which is full of quaint little shops. We had a very relaxing breakfast of oatmeal and tea, then jumped into the car ready for adventure!

Downtown West Hartford truly is quite quaint. We walked from shop to shop, sometimes window shopping, sometimes shop shopping! I was elated when we found a Ten Thousand Villages shop full of artsy crafts and tourist items. And of course, I had to buy something. So what did I buy! A pound of Coffee! But it was a specialty. Toffee Caramel! I am actually enjoying it at this very moment in my life!

One of our favorite shops was an art gallery just opening up. We spent much of our time there just looking, wishing we were rich enough to buy it all and take it back home. I was just excited that beginning artists had someone providing a venue for their road to their dreams.

If you know the Northeast, you are aware that a restaurant specialty up there is Friendly's! We ate there of course!

After our adventures downtown, Trista took me to her favorite grocery mart---Whole Foods! I LOVED IT! I bought some oatbran to bring home! Josh and Trista introduced me to oatbran, which provides me with something to rotate with my oats every morning throughout the week for breakfast! Keeps eating life at a variety.

We got home after Josh did. It was so good to see him! We watched a movie that night--The Queen and drank lots of tea. Josh is an avid tea drinker and makes it his hobby to brew and mix various loose leaf teas! I was treated to several rounds while there!

We also spent some time going through music. I cannot tell you how good it was to have Trista play for me. I am sure the fact that we are best friends plays into the factor that Trista and I really connect when it comes to my singing and her playing! I truly miss that part of grad school. I will be very open to say that one of my prayers is that Trista and I will someday collaborate again on a professional level. I could not ask for a better friend, ear, and accompanist. She is an honest pianist. Very musical and sensitive. One does not find more than one of those in a lifetime.

Saturday was a big, but exciting day for us! We ventured to Mystic Seaport, an outdoor Whaling Ship Museum. I LOVED IT! We walked for hours. And we stepped on to 4 historic Whaling ships, venturing all the way to the bottom of each. I got my first taste of Clam Chowder, and am now sold on it.

It was such a lovely day! I truly miss being outside in the warm sunshine! My whole weekend was literally spent outside. If we weren't touring, we were walking and talking. It was so refreshing---physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Saturday evening, Trista and I celebrated birthday's. Mine had passed, hers is coming up in late September! We got each other a tea. I got Trista a book with hers, and she got me a CD with mine! We must be friends! :) The evening ended with another movie! :)

Sunday was a relaxing day! We just sat around and talked. I listened to Josh's music (amazing by the way). And we just kinda chilled. The evening was splent splurging on popcorn and a movie---with tea of course.

My last day with my friends was spent at Elizabeth Park. It was such a lovely day, once again. The park had a garden that looked as if it were right out of Secret Garden. Rows upon rows of roses!

I guess I can sum up my vacation by saying, we walked, talked, drank tea, watched movies, played music, and talked some more. I felt as though we had never parted. As it was at grad school, when we parted at the airport on Tuesday, we did not say goodbye! We said "See you soon!" For we will never go without seeing each other. There will never be another Josh and Trista. I love them too much! I will always treasure them in my heart and uphold them in my prayer. I will see them again and for many years to come.