Surprise Visitor!

I had quite the surprise call early this morning from my best bud, Max, calling to say he had a 3 hr layover here in Mpls/St. Paul!! He was enroute from Montana to Iowa for training. So I went and grabbed him from the airport and took him to lunch for a much overdue catch-up session. I had missed seeing him last summer when I was home because he was out of town for work then. Though I did get to hang out with his wife, Nikki, and their sons (who are about the same ages as Becca and Alex - I secretly hope that Drew and Becca marry some day LOL). Nik - Thanks for sending the photos along! They are growing SO fast! Handsome 'lil devils!

Max and I have known each other since we were about 3. We lived on the same street for many years, were in the same class all through school and have seen each other through all of life's up and downs: relationships, marriages, divorces (all mine!), kids, houses, divorce/death of parents, moves, business/finance troubles.. the works! He's the one person from my childhood who I keep in touch with regularly. And even if those spans between contacts get a little long, we always seem to pick up where we left off, never missing a beat.

To me, Max is the epitome of a great friend. He's always got a joke or an ear, honest, genuine, always picks up the phone (or calls right back - I've recently got him texting ;) ) and would give ya the shirt off his back if you needed it; whenever you needed it. I can trust him with any bit of information - he's one of the few people I would trust with my life. And he always has the good goss from home! Max has been, and I believe, will always be, in my life.

Thanks, Max, for everything - past and yet to come. Wish we'd had more time today. Can't wait to see you again!!