An Ode to Andrew & Karen

"The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person?

Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?" (Eugene Kennedy)

Our dear friends Andrew and Karen came to visit us last week. They are one of the best fringe benefits that came with Pete. The Rogers have packed us, moved us, unpacked us, organized us . . . and they work better than pitosin: I went into labor after dinner with them!

You won't find two more real, down-to-earth, wise people. The only thing they really leave Rationality Road for is their insane love of Pugs--and once you meet theirs, you sort of understand.

Poor Karen has gotten to know more of me than she ever wanted. She took me for my post-natal check-up (she was on vacation from work). I told her it wouldn't take more than an hour. During that hour-that-turned-into-three, she was mistaken for a woman who was there for a colonoscopy (We managed to convince the nurse it was the OTHER woman in the red coat that was there for the procedure; whew.), she had to change and care for Thad (he was two weeks old and she doesn't have children); and she had to practically carry me down to the car after I ended up having a D&C in the office (nice drugs--great for the pain, bad for making sense and walking on my own steam)!

So now you see why I LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE the Rogers. LOVE.

By the time the Rogers showed up in Texas, we were probably 75% unpacked and moved in; I knew that once Karen stepped into the house, the rest would be taken care of in very. short. order.

And it was.

While they were here they unpacked the rest of the boxes (minus Pete's stuff);they rearranged furniture so our feng was more shui; set up my cozy office; shelved our books; and set up our Tivo. All of this and great fellowship, too. They are precious to me.

The quote above talks about the joy found in doing nothing together--and that's what we did for five very busy days. We just did a bunch of nothings that added up to a very big something: they helped us make a home here in Texas.

Whether we were moving bookshelves between rooms, installing dimmer switches, or watching Court-TV (well, Karen and I did), Andrew and Karen communicated that our friendship was still about "enjoying those moments of life that are utterly simple," whether in Seattle or Texas.

Thank you, Sweet Rogers. I will do nothing with you anytime.

Polly & (the late) Oliver Rogers (Gretel has joined the household, but I haven't received a Pug Announcement and picture yet.)