The Hobbit Hole Has Visitors

Excluding the variety of strangers (and some really good friends and really insane family members) who helped us move in and a few assorted relatives, last night we had our first real visitors to the Hobbit Hole.

First, Himself's childhood friend came to have dinner with us and spend the night. He's living temporarily in another state, commuting to The Frontier every day, while waiting for his house to close. I personally think the man is nuts - that's 100 miles of driving each way! To save his sanity and ensure he got some additional sleep, he stayed with us last night. Himself insisted I make Balti Chicken and Vegetables with Basmati Rice. Not usually something you serve to guests about which you know nothing of their food preferences. Astonishingly, Himself's friend liked the food (or was really good at faking a love of a food that was medium-spicy, has 30 ingredients and originated on a different continent).

Second, Julie of The Brown Brigade fame came to see us. She is in the area for a reunion and e-mailed me to see if she could come tour the Hobbit Hole. I was so excited, I immediately called Himself. "Two friends in one night!" I exclaimed. "I feel like I actually have friends." Granted, neither of them live in the area (Himself's friend is moving to the next county south of us, but it might as well be another country for as often as we'll see them), but for a brief moment, I felt like I actually knew people in The Frontier.

It was a lovely evening. Julie and Himself's friend both got tours of the Hobbit Hole. Himself's friend even christened the bulkhead near the entrance to the kitchen when he forgot to duck (ironically, Himself hasn't hit his head once - yet - and he's taller). Fortunately, the visitors of the 8-legged-variety stayed blessedly out of sight. (side note: the exterminator came yesterday as well - it was a very good day indeed!)

I had the most wonderful evening, just sitting and talking - catching up, reminiscing and enjoying ourselves (I even learned that Julie wasn't kididng when she cursed Hasbro - there is no way I could have figured out Coulter's transformer if my life depended on it). I don't think I had fully realized that my deep longing for VA is not just for the familiarity, but for the friends that we left behind. I began to realize that many of our East Coast friends, like ourselves, were expatriates, themselves on a journey of independence and self-discovery, and that, together in various groups, we had cobbled together a sort of surrogate family. There were military friends, work friends, church friends, neighborhood friends, social friends - each providing a sense of stability and belonging, a network of roots that mutually fed us as we forged our way through life, often without relatives of the traditional variety nearby.

I wonder what our friendships will be like here. In The Frontier, we are much closer to family - though our immediate families are still several hours' drive away. Still, the compelling need for a complete network of surrogate family members will be lessened, though I hope and pray that we are still able to forge some of the strong, beautiful friendships we did in the East. My life is forever richer because of those associations and deep friendships. I cannot imagine continuing life without them.

Night fell on the Hobbit Hole last night, highlighting the warm glow of lamplight, laughter and pleasant conversation brought by good friends. And we rejoiced.