There was no roast turkey on the table. No mashed potatoes or elegant appetizers, no caviar, no elaborate desserts. Not a table linen in sight.
Instead, there were three bagels and a scone, some water, some coffee. A whole bunch of paper napkins.
A five-year-old alternately worked on a craft project, nibbled his scone, and constructed buildings out of Legos. A one-year-old lounged in his stroller next to the table, gobbling up bagel pieces, flipping through board books, tossing Cheerios to the far reaches of the surrounding booths.
And there were two friends. Two women who love sharing breakfast together, but don’t often get the chance.
And that made it a feast.
My friend and I met at Panera this morning for a long-overdue bagel-and-chat session. We met four years ago, when our two older boys were in preschool together. While the boys formed a friendship consisting of Imaginext and bicycles, we built our own friendship on the foundations of (among other things) shared faith, a love of books, a belief that one can never have too many journals, and a thorough enjoyment of Panera.
New obligations, a new baby, and the increasing complexity that life automatically throws at everyone mean that we don’t meet for breakfast as often as we used to. But when we do, I’m reminded why I love it so much.
Though L. only allowed us 45 minutes of chatting (a vast improvement over his usual 10-minute restaurant limit — in part, I’m sure, because there was an interesting 5-year-old to observe), we feasted. It was a delicious buffet of encouragement, heart-sharing, commisserating, and understanding. We talked about our kids and how parenting is changing as they grow older. We discussed emotions, baby sign language, personal struggles, cholesterol, after-school activities, housekeeping, Bible study. Our conversation touched on everything from candles to crying to the weather.
Life gets busy. And it’s easy — at least it is for me — to put off getting together with friends for far too long. I get absorbed in the day-to-day: household tasks, paying bills, baby and child care, sneaking in naps. And I forget how much my soul is refreshed by a few minutes with a good friend. Some conversation over a bagel and coffee fills me up in more ways than one. Yes, I enjoy the yummy carb treat, but my heart feasts as well, on the sustenance that comes from true friendship.
I hope you have such a friend, and I hope the two of you get together for a feast very soon.
You can coast for days on a meeting like that, can’t you?
It sounds wonderful.
That sounds like a WONDERFUL day – lucky you!
I do have a friend like that – she came over and helped me organize a closet tonight. Our time together has been very limited lately and tonight was wonderful!
Oh my gosh Katrina, I know exactly what you mean and even wrote a similar post on Tuesday about how I often get so sidetracked with my organizing that I completely neglect my friends which leads me to feeling empty inside needing friendship fuel.
What a wonderful post, Katrina. I’m so blessed to have a friend like that — just last week we celebrated having known each other for 20 years! And tonight we feasted together…it was only over the phone, across some 70 miles, but the fellowship was sweet nonetheless. I actually wrote about her on my blog, on August 30.
Fabulous post, I know just what you mean. Sadly, my friend like this lives completely on the other side of the States. /cry! I miss the days of us living so close we saw each other – and chatted just like this – every single day. I need to call her. Thanks Katrina, for the kind in the behind.
Kiy
What is it about time with a girlfriend that totally refreshes our souls? What a good gift from God, and what a great post!
This is a lovely post, Katrina. And so true that the feast comes from interacting with a friend. Glad you had a chance to do breakfast and be refreshed.
Enjoy this time as it goes by way too fast. Mine are now in High School and I still don’t seem to have time to go chat with a friend over a cup of joe.
I do have a new job as Chauffeur
Of course next they will be driving…driving. Breathe Pam Breathe.
I made an appointment today for my 15 year old son to go to the dentist. (still the mommy job) I made it for after school.
Great idea–school is very important–I forgot about driver’s ed. Now when am I going to get him into the dentist? $#@!#*
What a sweet, sweet post. It’s so easy to get caught up in the everyday things that we let our friendships slide- but they are so important.
Thanks for the reminder!
Recently I talked with a friend that I worked with before I was married and found out she has a new hobby…”Quilting”!!! We have not seen each other in years…but somehow Cleveland does not seem that far away!
I feasted at lunch with my BF on Monday – what a treat! (No kids were there!)