GOOD FRIENDS FROM FT. HOOD TEXAS

The first of April of last year, we had a wonderful surprise when some really good, old friends of ours came for a visit. It was so good to see them, it had been so long. The last time we saw them was when Vanessa was just a baby. Jim and Linda Collins along with their 3 sons James, Michael and Kristen became our friends about 25 years ago, when our sons Steven and James became best friends in school.

Jim and my ex Virgil both were serving tours of duty at Ft. Hood, Texas. Steven and James were attending elementary school on post and immediately became best friends, (it seems that is the way I have met most of my good friends. Through my children). It did not take long and Linda and I became best friends also. Our families got together for birthday parties, backyard barbecues and shopping for Linda and I. It was not long before our family was getting out of active duty and heading for Virgil's home state of Utah. And that is how we came to live here.

Anyway after Jim came home from a tour of duty in a war zone, they came for a visit when we lived in Pleasant Grove along time ago. Actually it was when Kayla was a baby. They were on their way to visit their family in Washington state. And than they came again on their way to moving to Washington state when Jim retired from the U.S. Army. Although we did keep in touch with phone calls and emails, I have to say that it was really good when Linda called and said that her and Jim were going on a vacation across the U.S. and wondered if they could stop by and visit with us for a few days. It did not take me long to answer her, I think she may still be a little deaf in that one ear from my screaming.

They were here for a few days and I have to tell you that I wish that they would come back again really soon. Linda, Kayla, Vanessa and I had a fun day shopping for gifts for weddings and we all enjoyed a Pineapple Upside Down Cake that Jim made for us. So dear friend, please do not make it another 16 years before you come for a visit again. In fact tomorrow would not be too soon!