I’ve written much over the years on this blog about friendship. I sometimes think I know many people, but have few friends. I suppose I have more friends than I might think, but when your friends live thousands of kilometers away, it’s hard to take advantage of that relationship. And I do think we need friends, we need people who bring us joy, bring us consolation when we need it, who know the story we’re about to tell but listen intently anyway; we just need friends.

Yesterday, Wendy and I had a chance to have lunch with two friends, Kerry and Cheryl. We first met them when we went to Calgary. Cheryl worked in the office supporting me, and Kerry became in time the CSM for Glenmore Temple. They also became good friends, hosting parties for us, cheering us on, involving us in their family journey and simply being kind. Cheryl began her cancer journey, which to this day continues some 23 years later, though she is currently doing well.

They were coming through Edmonton on their way to Jasper, and we had lunch together. While we met a bit later, we still had a great deal to catch up on, and we talked until we saw the supper crowd arriving. We had to tell each other about our kids, show pictures of our grandkids and tell the stories that we knew would come.

This isn’t my meal from our meeting with Kerry and Cheryl, this was my chilli cheese dog from Tuesday’s lunch! It has nothing to do with my subject friends; it was just delicious, and I’m putting it here for that reason only. Now I bet you’re hungry…hmnmmmm???

Where was I? Oh, yes, friends! Today I’m going to the airport to pick up friends who are returning home to Edmonton. This morning I texted a friend a picture of my blue fern, which I grew from seed last year but didn’t flower. This spring it has exploded with blossoms. She texted right back, saying how beautiful a plant it is and talking about never having seen it before.

Today we’re going to the airport to pick up friends who are flying in from a family event and we’ll pick them up at the airport, offer to take them out for supper, and get them home. That’s what friends do because that’s the value of friendship.

And of course, airports let us see lots of great relationships. When awaiting my flight out of Winnipeg this week, I noticed this scene in the international arrivals area. I didn’t get to see the reunion, but I couldn’t help but smile at the scene.