Long Hollow

For twelve years now I've trekked to the coast with friends for a much-needed respite from "routine".

Two years ago, a beautiful weekend was made unforgettable: Laura Bush spent the night at the same condos we were staying in.

I wrote about it (HERE), but didn't post the photos my friend Donna took with my camera of Laura walking on the beach with her friend, surrounded by Secret Service guys dressed as 'normal' people. Like us, she was just trying to have a relaxing evening at the beach.

Donna took the photos because I ran out to the beach with some of the other women, hoping to "casually" bump into Laura as she returned from her walk (can you say "paparazzi"?)

When we passed her on the beach, Laura was gracious and friendly. The Secret Service guys we met were good sports, too, joking around and letting us take their photos.

It was a magical weekend, the perfect way to commemorate 10 years of a special friendship.

For some reason, we decided we shouldn't post the photos of Laura. I'm not sure why… she gets her photo taken all the time!

I decided enough time had passed to post a couple of them.

Beautiful, isn't she? 

Laura's not here this weekend, but we're still having a beautiful, magical time, full of sunshine, the surf, plenty of food, friendship, dancing…

Sweet!

Here are a few of my other sweet! moments of the week…

Saturday: the only evidence of a rear-end collision being a few scratches, even if one is on your nose just before a reunion; recognizing and remembering faces you haven't seen in twenty years or more; spending overdue hours with dear friends and vowing not to let so much time pass again without another visit; friends who take care of your grandpuppy as well as your own menagerie while you're away

Sunday: breakfast with your parents; face-to-face time with your sister, her husband, your parents, your brother's kids and capturing more photos of his precious granddaughter; picking up your son from the airport after his European adventure and hearing some of his stories; 2/3 of your kids at home for dinner; remembering a first dance 30 years ago that changed your life; getting word that your oldest made it home to Dallas, safe and sound

Monday: spotting a few patches of yellow and purple wildflowers popping up along the roadside; looking through photos and videos of your son's trip to Munich and Prague; spending a few hours with your daughter; sharing dinner, conversation, memories and cheesecake with longtime friends; lightning flashing in the distance on a night drive home

Tuesday: an invitation to become a contributor to an online blog for over-50 women; dark clouds in intricate patterns, thunder and lightning seen from the protection of a wide porch overlooking the Hollow; rain spray carried into the porch by the wind to splash on my face

Wednesday: jacket-cool mornings with pink clouds; a drive through the Texas Hill Country at sunset; reuniting your grandpuppy with her mom; souvenirs from Germany and Prague

Thursday: road trips; Reuben sandwiches; the first sight of the coast in a year; pink and blue beachhouses; reuniting with friends on a balcony overlooking the beach

Friday: running on the beach; flocks of pelicans; a long phone conversation with a friend; a glimpse of porpoises leaping from the water; strangers offering to help your hip-surgery-recovering sister down the boardwalk; twirling on a dance floor with friends for hours

Saturday: having an artist you met during a walk on the beach ask for one of your photos; a thirsty beach puppy drinking from your hand (and reminding its parents that beach puppies need water!); Bloody Mary's on the beach; a call from a friend checking on you after reading about your car accident; reading on the beach until sunset; singing "Happy Birthday" to a special friend

I hope all of you are having a beautiful weekend, too… a grand finale to a week full of sweets!

Share yours with me!