Visits & Visitors

"Thank you for being a friend

Traveled down the road and back again

your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant"

As I was reviewing my calendar today, I found myself overwhelmed by how truly dedicated my friends have been since I moved. In addition to weekly (if not daily) conversations via IM or text with many people from home, and the multitude of emails/phone calls I have received each month, I have been blessed with many visitors. Between my visits home and my visitors, I have managed to meet up with people nearly every month since I moved. Here is how my last 9 months have gone:

August - visit from Noel Nocciolo (complete with a fabulous new cd). Also, I flew to Las Vegas to shoot a wedding for Christine Rodriguez, and visit with some lovely girls for Stephanie's bachelorette party.

September- visit from Alison Smidt, who had patience while I slowly crutched beside her through the city, and who took me to my first Red Sox game. Also, she got to see Ben Affleck filming. woohoo. ;)

October- Trip home to Ca for Stephanie's wedding. This also included a stay with GinaMarie in Sacramento, a stay with Matt Gilchrist in coarsegold, a ride to OC with my sister Beth (with a stop off in Bakersfield to say hello to Alisa McPherson), a visit to see my kids at the Y, chai @ alta & dinner at Ho Sum Bistro with Chelsea Gratz, and a brief overnight stay with Kelly O'Dell. Also this month, I had a visit from Bonny O'Neill. This was about a week after I was able to walk again. We got to enjoy the fall leaves, a trip to Walden Pond, and got to pull squealing mandrakes at the Harry Potter exhibition :)

November - We had no visitors in November, but we were able to host another Straggler's Thanksgiving with new friends from James's school, and I started my new job.

December - ANOTHER visit from Alison Smidt. This time I had use of my legs again. :)

January- James and I headed down to NYC to meet up with Stephanie & Stephen Bayer, who were in Philly with family. We were hosted by Kelly Novitski and the adorable Otis. Also, we managed to meet up with Noel N.

February-a visit from Jessica Behal. I like to name this weekend Beers, Treats, and Conversations.

March- Thanks to Berkelee School of Music, I had a spontaneous visit from Melody Wilson and her sister Tiffany (who was auditioning at Berkelee). It was raining the entire day, but they were troopers!

April - Speaking of Troopers... we got to visit with Trooper while he was in the area for work. :)

May- This month we will be experiencing a whirlwind trip to Ca. It starts with landing in the OC and seeing Jeremy Stafford, my kids at the Y, and staying with Chelsea, Dieter, and baby Annabelle!! :) We will then head up to Fresno with the Bayers to enjoy/photograph the wedding of Brandon Weaver, and see the many wonderful college friends who will be in attendance. The wedding is at the home of my friend Athena, whom I am excited to see again. While in the NorCal area, I will also be seeing Matt, and my Oakhurst family. Immediately following the wedding we head down to Bakersfield to say hello to James's family, then I will staying a night at Alisa McPherson's NEW house with the rest of my Spectre friends (Huffy, GMar, Jen Smith). From there, I head home, and James flies to TX to see James Pierce. All of this in 5 days. Holy Mackerel.

My summer is also full of visitors:

June: A visit from the lovely Mary Ginty.

July- We get to share a Boston 4th of July (aka the greatest kind) with Chris & Drea Hill

August: Jason & Huffy Cooper are heading our way.

In the midst of all of this, we have seen either my dad, or our whole family in Maine, at least 8 times. :)

Like I said, it is a blessing to have people in my life with such dedication. Be it on this coast or back west, we find ways to see each other. How lucky am I?