Suppose . . .

. . . it were just a cosmic chance for two girls to be set side-by-side for a summer's spate -- a thread of common language and little else to hold them. It could have been by chance, but as the season unfolded and enfolded them into friendship and sisterhood that crossed oceans, endured silence, flourished in letters, and flowed vividly through the years the chance of chances melted into a design of love. A name drawn by lottery concealed seeds designed for the heart.


Just last week the rainy skies of fall (which had literally thundered in!) broke wide into smiles of summertime's rich sunshine that nearly matched the smile I wore as I greeted my Norwegian sister Mimmi, her daughter Siv, and my precious "Mamma."




An earlier email informing of flight info also pleaded for a bit of warm sun, as Norway had been bypassed by summer this year. This simple request prompted prayers on my part for clear skies of the former season while my dear "sister" and family visited. Did chance swing by again? I never bothered to wonder as we dined out of doors on artichokes and apple pie, discussing Nordic summerhouses and fjords, clothed in gauzy skirts and sleeveless tops -- surely my prayers had been heard by a designer rather than a will o' the wisp wind.




Grass Valley, Roseville, Lake Tahoe, and San Francisco -- it mattered not where we traveled -- the sun joined us every day. Yet, on the day of departure the clouds gathered above and sweaters rescued chilly arms. The day after they left I awoke to the pitter-patter of raindrops and a quiet coffeepot. No sun in the sky, no strong coffee calling out, "Come and play!"

I contented myself with warm memories as I sipped tea and wondered whether our plans for a midsommer visit to Norge next summer will come to fruition . . . and after that a meeting up in Southern California, then Florida, Italy . . .

I finished up my tea and set about praying -- leaving nothing to chance. : D

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p.s.

Past posts about my Norwegian Connection can be found here and here.