...Go!

Katie is on a plane now, bound for San Francisco and then Sydney. We spent most of the past 96 hours shopping and packing, checking and rechecking her to-do and packing lists. We signed up for Skype and tested it. Watched a couple movies together. Sniped at each other once or twice.

She promised to call from San Francisco. I'll stay awake, just to say hello.

Early Tuesday morning a friend, my best friend in the world, and I went to the MN Arboretum while Katie slept. We drove the 3-mile loop to see everything, then parked the car and walked through our favorite areas. We walked along, mostly together but not always. We talked a lot, but not constantly. We noticed things, some of which we pointed out to one another.

We've seen one another in person only a small handful of times in the last three years, maybe 5 or 6, but it doesn't matter. We say hello and immediately fall into the rhythm, the deep comfort, of being with someone who knows the best and worst about you and can be trusted with the truth of your life. We don't need to live in the same city, not even in the same state, to remain in one another's hearts.

Good to remember while my girl flies halfway cross the world.