So, there are probably not many blog posts in the world with that title! After two years of almost no time together in person, and very little time on the phone (funny how motherhood and working seem to take up so much time), Leslie and I decided that we were desperately in need of some time together. She is one of my dearest friends in the entire world--she just "gets" me in a way that I find so life-giving and essential. Thanks to Gmail chat and Google Maps, we determined that there was a weekend in July that we both miraculously had free and that Youngstown, OH was the halfway point between my house in Kalamazoo and her house in Vienna, VA. A few Hilton hotel points later, and our weekend plans were on their way!
We both arrived Friday evening and had a dinner with great conversation and mediocre food at The Fifth Season. Saturday was gorgeous and sunny, and since there really isn't much of a touristy nature in Youngstown, Leslie and I headed into Western Pennsylvania and spent the day at Moraine State Park. This piece of land is reclaimed mining area, but you would never guess it from driving around. It is beautiful! After quite the meandering drive (beware of following detour signs!) we arrived at the picnic area for lunch, went on a nice woodland hike overlooking Lake Arthur, and then cooled off with a quick dip before some sunbathing and people watching (quite entertaining!).
Saturday evening, we decided to try another local restaurant, Barry Dyngles BBQ on Raccoon Road. Now, you may think that after an unsatisfactory venture with a local place the night before, we might have chosen something safe and boring, like Applebees. But how could we resist a name like Barry Dyngles, especially with an address on Raccoon Road???? Luckily for us, this turned out to be really delicious food, and they had a patio where we could enjoy the picture perfect evening and eavesdrop on a table full of tipsy locals. :)
I think that we talked for the entire two days that we spent together--everything from our parenting philosophies to funny anecdotes about our boys (they both love garbage trucks!) to the recommended hosta-splitting technique to random thoughts about tiny things. I got to see lots of pictures and videos of Evan and the new house (for the record, Evan is completely adorable, and the house is really great too).
The fact that this weekend turned out to be so easy to plan, so cost-effective and such an easy drive made us both feel that we don't live quite so far away from each other. I felt fulfilled and reconnected, and am already looking forward to the next time we're in Youngstown!
In the midst of all the talking, I didn't take many photos, but I did manage a few shots during our hike:
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