to a & d, with love

I’m not sure if this is a love letter or a very belated thank you note.  Perhaps, it’s a little of both.

Before we visited you in you in North Carolina, I had visions of what it was going to be like.    Me & Eric, sipping mint juleps (my visions always include drinks) on the back porch in the sweltering southern heat, talking with the two of you, dear friends we don’t get to see as often as we’d like.  We talk eagerly and effortlessly, like old friends do, and any breaks in conversation is to take in the beauty of the moment.  The 3 boys and the girl who can easily keep up them hunt for bugs and other critters that can fit in little hands.  I should note that in my dream, it is always summertime-5-ish, so the sun has yet to set, and we are not in a rush to start dinner, although that too, will be oh so spectacular.  Life is charmed.   

I realize that this may seem a tad bit romanticized, especially the fact that my vision does not include sibling bickering and mosquitos, but I have to say that our actual experience wasn’t much different.  Aside from the insignificant details like the weather, the overall feel of our visit, was exactly as I had expected and envisioned.  We had such a lovely time, and I really do look back on our days on Friendship Circle as a romantic rendezvous.

Spending time with you guys would be fun in the middle of nowhere, but luckily for us, we spent it at your beautiful, cozy home where we could appreciate the beauty of the life you have created there.   Thank you for taking us to your favorite haunts:  Camino, Krankies, Skippy’s, the pool, etc.  But more so, thank you for sharing all the special little things that I was able to take home with me to Southern California:  sipping bourbon (and enjoying it), dinner music (I only have Miles on Pandora, but I will expand into CD’s and to LP’s once our record player finds a permanent home inside our house), delicious recipes (calzones, brick chicken, vegetable gratin, to name a few).  Ari & Gabe could not have been better hosts, with Ari giving us his room as well has technical computer advice and Gabe endearing us with his smile and sandwich making skills!  What a great package you have there.  

We would love for you to move back to Southern California one day, but for now, please know that we so admire the home you have created in other South and would love to visit again before you eventually move back because who are we kidding:  You will move back!  

Thanks again.  xo