On Saturday morning I abandoned my usual routine and drove(for the first time alone) down to visit a friend in Oxford Md. She and her husband have been friends of ours for many years.Janet and I met at summer camp when we were young teens.We know each others history,we have grown up,married,had kids,similar marital problems,the joys and problems with kids,her disappointment in no grandkids yet,me with two.

but that is not what I wanted to talk about first.

I drive down with the Garmin,plus mapquest,because I always get lost going to a new place.After a few wrong turns I was almost at my destination.the Garmin said"turn left" as I passed the street(not being able to read the sign) .I slammed on my brakes,swerved my car to the left and promptly found myself in a ditch! EVidently in Md. this is how they do drainage! Anyway,within no more than 30 seconds,as I was standing outside my car,hands on hips,not sure what to do next,two cars with guys in them stopped,got out and said"are you all right"? They then surveyed the situation,and another guy across the street got his truck and a long rope.One guy tied the rope to something under the car,and thejn the 2 guys driected the guy pulling the truck and they pulled my car right out of that ditch! I thanked them profusely,still amazed that anyone would stop so quickly to help,and called them my "guardian angels" shook their hands,and they bid me on my way.This is the country.people live far apart.People care about their neighbors. to me they were real life angels sent from God to help me.

The visit  with my friends was wonderful,lots of sharing and laughing.they took me out to dinner.Then Pres,the husband took me outside with his telescope to view the myriad stars in the unblemished sky.I found Jupiter,as well as Orion,and viewed the craters on a gibbous moon.

Pres left early the next day to dog sit his duahgters dog..Jan and I went to ST Michaels(which I hear is Cheyney country) and walked and shopped and had a late lunch.CAme home and ate chicken soup and watched "Conrack" the movie version of "the River is Wide" by Pat Conroy,my favorite author.wonderful to see a young John Voight playing the creative teacher bringing life to poor island dwellers on an island off the CArolina coast.Sad ending.The teacher was too creative and right brained to stay in the box,and so was fired,and the children stood on the dock,playing Beethovens fifth (on a  record)with solenm eyes.Very moving.

Then this morning I looked for "George" the resident heron,who I had seen yesterday stalking fish.

Maybe to some,not such a special time.But for me,still in grieiving mode,still healing,this was cleansing for me,as the country and good friendship always is.

The whole weekend was a godsend,and I am grateful for having experienced it.

And now I have returned to the big job of healing and wondering what work lies ahead when the Lion is let out of its cage.