when kindreds come to town

These are the photos I have from today.  Partially eaten cake and empty teacups.  They are the remnants of a day that went far more quickly than I had ever imagined possible.  The sweet remains of time with a kindred spirit.

I first met B in Cyprus at one of our coffee mornings.  We would craft together, wander the streets of old Nicosia together, but mainly we would talk together.  She and her husband still live in Cyprus but were in Atlanta for some conferences.  B joined me at our little apartment today and it was like time stood still.  I opened the door and was greeted by a smile I treasure and tight hug, capturing the embraces we've been denied for over a year.

We poured brimming cups of Choffy, cut into the cake, and sank into the sofa for hours of conversation.  We discussed work, moves, family, faith, worries, dreams, craft projects, decorating, and everything in between.  We took turns listening to one another, eager to soak up all the anecdotes that are impossible to communicate in written correspondence.  While we were catching up on over a year worth of events, it felt like absolutely no time had passed at all.  It was just me and my friend, my Cypriot family.

For awhile we spoke of Cyprus.  Stories that only someone who had lived on the island could ever possibly understand were shared.  B told me how she hadn't seen any motorcycles in the States and we reveled in the blessed relief of a road without street races.  I told her how Mr. F and I were convinced the local city planner was a Cypriot, and B agreed.  We spoke of fresh lemons and square concrete buildings.  It made my heart ache for our little Mediterranean home, but with B, I was on it again.  All of the good, all of the friends we left behind.  The shopkeepers and taxi strikes.  The smell of the sea and golden hue of light.  

When B left, we hugged deeply again, sharing promises of prayers for one another and odes of love. I came back into our apartment and basked in the glow and warmth of a recent visit from a kindred.  And just like that, all is well with the world.