Eighteen years ago, I was a mess. My mom had passed away on the 11th, and my life had shattered. I had always been strong, I had taken care of both of my parents in their final years, I had done what had to be done, often with no help and no sleep. Bear took care of me. He kept me on this planet when all I wanted to do was curl up on my mom’s grave and die with her.
And so my days were spent dealing with the estate, dealing with sisters who were not co-operative, dealing with grad school and with bills. I escaped by watching soap operas. I would go online at night and chat with people in soap opera message boards.
A few of those people became friends. Our lives have changed, and most of us rarely watch the soaps, but over the years we’ve watched children grow up, parents die, job changes, all of life that happens in 18 years.
Tomorrow I’m going to finally meet one of those people. We’ve been part of each others’ lives for 18 years and it’s finally going to happen. I am beyond excited!
And then I’ll be on my way home. I’ve missed my Bear, and my Maverick, so badly that it’s a physical ache. I will spend some hours with my friend, and then I will get in my car and I will be home in three hours and the reunion will be epic.
Tonight I got to see my great nephews, two boys who can do no wrong and totally own my heart. I had lunch with a friend who is the polar opposite of me politically, and we laughed and talked and reminisced and had a great time. (It can be done, we have more in common than we want to admit these days) So I head for home with a heart full of memories and more to be made tomorrow.
Blessed be
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
I am at the very beginning of the journey you’ve described. I don’t know how you found the strength to do it all. For me, I met people in dog chat groups. You are right that online friends can be some of the kindest, most supportive people. I envy you finally getting to meet one of your longtime, never-before-met friends!
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It was a great afternoon. We’ve talked so much over the years, it was totally comfortable to just sit with each other.
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Also, I’m sorry – it’s a very hard road and one that I couldn’t have ever traveled alone. He took care of me when I could barely find the strength to breathe. You’ll find that you’re stronger than you know. And if you need to talk, send me a message
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What a wonderful friend you are. So glad you (finally) could take this trip. Safe journey home.
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I’m home and so glad to be – it was a good week but I need my Bear and my Maverick and the side visit was great – but I’m glad to be home
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Should be a great home coming. Maverick will have thought you were gone for at least 189 years according to his internal dog calendar. By now the laundry has probably piled up, too, so it’s good to get back to the wilds of PA. Has Bear mentioned that you have a skunk living under the house? No problems, welcome back. (Some pretty good posts while on the road – could relate to them all.)
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I’ve only seen a skunk here once, and Max took care of that – it was a lovely night. It was an epic reunion with Maverick though – on both sides!
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I imagine there were lots and lots of tail wiggles and Maverick probaby wiggled his too. Good to hear you’re back safe and sound.
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Maverick’s whole body got into the act! It was truly awesome
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