"Lifer" Reunion

Hands down, these were two of the quickest days of my entire life. "Time flies when you're having fun" is an understatement for this last weekend. Time flies when you're communing with those who make you laugh even when you're recovering from the stomach flu (unfortunately, me - I've thought a lot about who deserved it more and Jenny was the only one I could come up with); time flies when your body automatically awakens at 7AM but the unfamiliar surroundings reminds you that your baby is at home with Grandma and you can slide back under the covers, cuddle with your husband and await that inevitable moment when your body physically aches from lying down too long; time flies when every corner you turn in the rental house there stands someone so intensely dear to you that the next hour in conversation seems only minutes and you walk away feeling fulfilled and more aware of who you are; time flies when every meal you eat is delicious and prepared with LOVE (thanks Judy Haferbecker for being an inspiration to us all); time flies when you wake up on Sunday morning and get choked up, almost pissed off, that breakfast is ready, the coffee is brewing and everyone is packing the last of their personal items into their bags and rushing down the stairs to gather once more and then within the hour say their 'goodbyes'... time flew, but we've already planned the next reunion for April/May out on Camano Island. None of us can wait.

The weekend began with a trip from Bellingham, two trips from North Seattle, a trip from Portland, and a trip from Whidbey Island... am I right, Jess? We gathered together at The Public House Restaurant after a tiresome drive through the dark and rainy weather. Geoff and Amy, Kyle and I and Holly all made our way from the rental house downtown to the pub where everyone would be showing up to grab a bite to eat. Two by two they sauntered in, shaking off their jackets, searching the restaurant, and inevitably, when 'the table' was spotted, the sweet smile of relief that we were all in the same place again. We casually got out of our chairs and warmly embraced each other with great anticipation for what the next 48 hours would hold for all of us. We traveled from The Public House to a smaller joint a few blocks away where we unintentionally split-up - girls/boys - and sat down catching up on what's been the latest news. Holly and Jenny played a quick game of foosball with some locals as did the boys - the rest of the girls and myself enjoyed our unnoticably uncomfortable wood booths and dove into a conversation on past times and how it all originally got started... you know, the "Lifers". We eventually headed back to the house and one by one headed off to bed when we could no longer keep our eyes open -- we had no idea the beauty that awaited us the following morning.


See, showing up to such a small coastal town well after dark - and not to mention the stormy weather - no one knew which way was up or down! Well, I take that back. Dusty and Jenny had been there before. We called their cell phone periodically on Friday evening seeking more specific directions on how to get to The Public House Restaurant - understand this was before they arrived into town - and the only information that Kyle repeated back to me when he got off the phone was 'down by the water', or 'go towards the water'... unfortunately, we had no idea if that was to the left or right of us!

We awoke on Saturday morning to this splended view of the coast and lighthouses in the distance. We had a large wraparound porch and an unobstructed view of the old buildings across the lawn. It was incredible. We spent Saturday preparing meals, taking walks in the cold weather, playing personal games of Sudoku on the couch in front of the fireplace, taking naps, drinking good beer and sipping wine. Our conversations rolled from one to another with ease - some more intense than others... and all with an element of sincerity that we rarely find in this world. One conversation began when one of the 'wives' entered our morning gathering with nothing less than a 'had sex last night' glow on her face and Jenny called it; another conversation centered around the fact that Dave and Dusty both cross their legs at the knees while sitting yet one looks much more feminine than the other while doing so - no names... by the way, your Norwegian pancakes were phenomenal!; others were fleeting conversations about personality traits and whether it was better to play a game together or sit and relax by the fire being introverted if one so wished to be, and whether or not we should have kids at the next gathering, and trivial things such as when lunch or dinner should be ready, and how each person adds such a unique dimension to the entire group - yes, during that conversation we spoke mostly of those who could not join us such as Scott and Darryl. We spoke of religion and Christianity; politics and world views; Seahawks and the Superbowl... overall, the day - the weekend! - was wonderful and all too short. I think everyone would agree.


Thank you to all of our friends who have always been, and will continue to be, a large part of Kyle and I's life. I know you will be the ones we raise our kids with - in fact, you will be the ones to teach our children the most hideous of habits YET the ones that we would entrust our most valuable possessions to! Pretty awesome stuff, wouldn't you agree? I hope that we are not the envy of, but the catalyst for, everyone who desires something real - would they be intentional and committed to those who have come to mean the most to them.

With love, the Scheis. See you all in a couple of months!