claire was trying her best to ride this big kid bike all afternoon. mya and lucy followed each other around. pretty sweet friends. michelle and lucy hanging in the hammock. mya was on her game trying to get up the steps when we looked away--at lightening speed. alison and mya hanging out. poor thing had foot surgery a week ago and still played hostess. what a amazing girl! mya and henri were trying to fix the air conditioner or maybe they were sharing secrets. hmm. i hate good-byes. i hate them so much that my way of coping is to avoid them. my good friends know this. thankfully, they understand and put up with my silly ways. no fuss was made. i avoided lunch with a few from work and i avoided another lunch date that will take place tomorrow. i can't avoid saying the dreaded good-byes to my two, nearest and dearest friends--alison and michelle. these girls are the best. really. this lifestyle involves great efforts to stay connected with those friends...