Lentil Soup

Cynthia and Casey were here for lunch today.  “It’ll be simple,” I wrote them.  “Soup and bread.  And maybe a salad.  You bring dessert.”

“Done!” they wrote back.  Little did I know that yesterday was Casey’s birthday. Fittingly, they brought a cake — chocolate and mousse from the Cottage Bakery!  “Delish!”  But not nearly as good as the conversation, the catching up, the laughter, and the bittersweet feeling you get when you know you have to store it all up until a next time, who knows when.

Bread

We spent a while reviewing family members and their progress — not so much from our side or Cynthia’s side, but quite a litany when it came to Killingsworths.  It was the next best thing to seeing then all, but still…

I had written a few days back that Carol Wachsmuth was finishing up the Vespers 2020 schedule and it was coming home to me that the Killingsworth Family had said that last year would be their final one.  After 20+ years!  I really couldn’t take that in.  They wrote back that they would be in Cathlamet later today and could they stop by.  “Yes.  For lunch,” I answered

Casey and Cynthis and Their Spiffy German Fire Engine Camper!

It was perfect!  Nyel made lentil soup and a salad and we had warm, crusty bread to go with it.  We talked about poetry and fiber arts and ghost stories and physical therapy.  And people — so many friends in common!  Some like Tom Taylor, long gone.  And some like David Campiche and Nancy Campiche whose circumstances have changed since Casey and Cynthia moved.  And how Facebook binds us… when we think to go there.

Cake!

The day went by in a flash.  And then they were off.  A part of our hearts went with them as always.  But also, as always, they left us with much much more than we had before they arrived.  And I’m not talking about the cake!