Unexpected Rewards Times Two

In February, I wrote about a young man who brought his wife to visit. Today, his younger brother rang the doorbell to say hi. He also made the journey from Japan to see where he lived for 5 years. He was just 8 when he left America with many good memories of life on Lincoln Ave.
Here he is in 1982, with his older brother, my son John, and Danny. I've always kept this photo in a frame, so it was easy to lay my hands on it today to show him. Aren't they adorable all dressed up for the school Halloween parade?

It was through Facebook that the first of my unexpected rewards arrived earlier in the week. For several years when our children were very young there was a family across the street who became our good friends, and our children's friends.
After leaving the neighborhood, they moved several more times, split up, and moved again. Along the way we lost track of them, and although they were often on my mind I had no idea where they went or how to reconnect.

So, when I discovered the father's brother on Facebook the other evening I made the leap and wrote asking about our friends. By the next morning I'd heard from the father's wife, and by the next day we were all connected again through the marvel of this new social networking medium.


Here are some photos from more than 40 years ago of our children. Do you think I can use Facebook to find some of these other children and their parents? Do you have some special people who have touched your life? Run, don't walk to find them. These wonderful childhood days go by so very fast. Before you know it, these beautiful young children are all grown up. Our eldest grandson is nearly the age that Uncle John was in the photo above. His little sister is just a little older than her father was in the Santa picture. I remember these occasions as if they were just yesterday.

Can't believe it has been 22 year since we last saw Takashi and more than 38 years since we last saw Adam & Debbie. I spent some time tonight taking a wonderful trip down memory lane as I searched the photo albums for pictures.

Life takes unexpected turns. The family whose house is in several of these photos also moved away a very long time ago. We went out to dinner with friends tonight - friends who now live in that house. Sometimes, as I walk in their door I see these scenes in my mind. Of young married couples and their children enjoying life and each others company.

Among my favorite things.

The snow began melting by Sunday afternoon. When it fully disappeared from the grass a welcome surprise was waiting. A surprise that still has the power to take my breath away when I first see it - green grass after a long and cold winter.

Next, sneaking in on silent breezes will be one of my favorite sights. Oh how I wish I had the talent to record its beauty on canvas. Photos just do not do it justice. Words do not do it justice. Yet, it is simple thing that most people never see.

Keep your eyes open folks and you may be surprised at the incredible beauty that unexpectedly appears from out of nowhere. It will sneak up on you soon - so, be on the lookout. You will be amazed at the shades of color you'll see. More than you can count and they change as the light bounces off of them. They are fleeting so watch carefully and you may see one of my favorite things - the many shades of green in an Illinois spring.

Tonight we were blessed with a strong thundershower and sunset that turned the sky an amazing blend of pink, gold and orange and filled it with rainbows - single and double rainbows all around the house. Then poof, they were gone.

A cruel joke?

No, just March in Chicagoland. Nothing like waking up to find the ground covered by inches of wet snow when it should be spring. March came in like a lion and will be leaving the same way.

Always know that winter has left its calling card when before I see it I see that the light from the bathroom skylight is blocked.