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On The Road Again
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On The Road Again
I promised my best friend Nancy that I would go with her to visit a sister in North Carolina. Because I knew I would be making this trip, I had rushed through North and South Carolina. Nancy and I have missed each other this summer and planned to spend quality time together in those beautiful states. We left on Tuesday, September 17, 2002.
Nancy and I have known each other since junior high school. We have been best friends since high school. Our husbands are close friends and we double dated throughout high school. We were “Maids of Honor” in each other’s weddings. We have maintained our friendship throughout our adult life. We have been blessed to live in the same city for most of our life. Nancy is a Christian and a minister’s wife and I value her opinion.
Friendships are precious. They take time to develop and maintain but are worth it. It is particularly important to have someone know you so well. We always know how the other is going to react. As she and the decorator planned the décor for my new house, at one point I tried to give an opinion. She said, “Hush Cheryle, you will like this.” I hushed and she was right. We can each order off a menu for the other.
Nancy has always been one of my primary support systems and I thank God for her. She had enough self-esteem to handle my sometimes-unsettling “direct approach.” She tells me when I have said enough but honors me with valuing my opinion.
Nancy has always been there when I needed her. She was at my house and took the call when the adoption agency told me I was going to get a daughter. She spent the weekend with me when I could not sleep from the anticipation. She bought me the first baby gift.
She helped pick out my dress for my senior piano recital. She listened to me cry after I lost my son. She sat with me and watched me cry for several days after I lost my job.
Ecclesiastes 4:10
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
(from New International Version)
Nancy is helping with my journey and I am honored that she is taking part in it. She enjoys talking to people and has amazing insights. We have prayed together and have been listening to Christian Bible Studies. She and I are trying to identify each other’s spiritual gifts. What a pleasure it is to share Christ and Christian views with a friend.
Nancy is also helping me think through my next steps. I am feeling a call from God and needed her to talk it through with me. One of the gifts she has always given is her honesty. She loves me enough to tell the truth.
Proverbs 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
(from New International Version)
I do not want to make this trip sound too “holy.” Our husbands will not believe it and will insist on keeping us “honest.” Nancy and I do have fun when we go off together. We laugh until we cannot catch our breath. We head our car in any direction we feel like going and always take longer than we planned. We have been known to shop and spend too much money. We have fished, visited zoos, and hiked together. We psychoanalyze each other, our husbands, and everyone we know. We never know where we are going or where we will be the next day. While I have yet to be able to talk her into parasailing, she will join me on most adventures.
We started our journey spending several days with her sister Sandra. Sandra invited us to the Red Hat Society meeting. She is the “Queen Mother” of her group. There are pictures of the meeting on the web.
You can join the Red Hat Society when you turned 50. I vowed that I would never go to a meeting. “Never say never.” God has a real sense of humor and you may eat your words. He insists on humility. Not only did I go, I had a wonderful time. We went to a “High Tea” and I now know how to hold my pinky when I spill my tea.
Nancy will not be 50 until December so “The Red Hat Society” considers her a “Wanna Be.” I could wear red and purple but Nancy could only wear pink. I tried to wear the red fire hat my nephew loaned me but Nancy and Sandra would not let me. I did take my bubbles.
I found the people at the meeting fun and charming and we laughed the entire evening.
I ask for your prayers as Nancy and I complete this journey together. God has chosen many people to be a part of this journey and I thank Him for allowing Nancy to also participate. I thank her husband Barry for loaning her to me. I thank my husband Bob for being patient with this additional week. I ask for your prayers about my next step.
I will be writing stories about our adventures, discoveries, and the people we meet on the last leg of this spiritual journey. We expect to be home in a week or so but make no promises.
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