The thing Brendan had been looking forward to and fretting about all summer finally came to pass this last weekend. We made plans even before we came to Manchester with all of our old friends so that we could see each other on 2-3 Aug in Northampton. We lived there for three and a half years before we moved back to the US, and it's been just a little more than a year since we left. Brendan was afraid that everyone would have grown apart and not have anything in common. I have to admit I worried that we'd run out of things to talk about in the first half hour and stare at each other uncomfortably for the rest of the day, with nothing to say.
But we needn't have worried. We fit right back in just as if we'd never left, just like a pare of comfortable shoes. Brendan said of his friend Daniel, "He may look different and sound different, but he's just the same." I think that's the sign of a true, lifelong friend, when you can pick up where you left off as if no time has passed. The friends we made in Northampton are such friends. It made me realize how special they are, and how much I want to be sure to stay in touch with them wherever we go.
Brendan and I took the train to Northampton on Thursday. Helen picked us up, we met up with Sandra and spent a lovely long lunch in Little Brington, near the Althorp estate (where Princess Diana grew up). We drove through the countryside, past beautiful fields and sheep pastures. I miss the lush green-ness of the summers here, the trees and flowers, the brambles and rabbits.
Thursday evening, we had dinner at the Pedels. Tom came home after a long day of playing cricket and played with Brendan with a reserve of energy that came out of nowhere. They played cricket in the garden until they couldn't see the ball anymore. I hated to peel them apart.
Friday, we went to Stanwick Lakes with the Pedels and Pointers. Ben, Brendan,Tom and Jess stopped long enough to eat a fabulous picnic lunch before heading back to the climbing frame to play tag. We walked a good ways and they played on an assault course, fake rock, zip line and swinging tires. The entire day was windy, but when the dark clouds moved in, we quickly headed for the cars and just made it before the rains fell.
Friday night we picked Bill up at the train station and had a great, huge Chinese dinner with the Messoms. By the time we'd finished with the large plate of appetizers, and our soups came, I was full. But I still had to try the crispy duck and the mains. Delicious! Wonderful conversation!
Saturday, we had breakfast with the Hutkos, another American family that we had met during our time in England, who are still living near London, and were in Northampton visiting friends, too! It was great to catch up and find where our other American friends had ended up.
Saturday morning was rainy and blustery. We were afraid our BBQ would be rained out. But at 1:00 on the dot, the sun came out and we headed to Sandra and Paul's for a day full of play and conversation. The kids never stopped. They swam, sat in the hot tub, and bounced on the trampoline all day. The adults didn't stop talking. Honestly, in the seven hours we were together, there was never a noticable lull in the conversation. Sandra and Paul were gracious and generous hosts. They kept us in wonderful food and drink all day long. Even though these friends came from different groups, they all came together and seemed like old friends. It was a brilliant day. I hated to see it end.
Sometimes, absense makes the heart grow fonder. But sometimes, it's as good as you remember it. I felt like we could have taken up house again in the lovely little village and had our fast friends back as if we'd never been gone. It was a special time in our lives, living in Northampton. And we came away with forever friends.
