Borrowed Rooms and Wood Floors: How Lucky Are We To Have Reasons To Go

My bed rarely sees me on the weekend... not in that way. I am at a stage in my life where I am able to road trip on Friday afternoon and return Sunday night in time for work at 7a.m. on Monday. I have been out of town or on an adventure just about every weekend this year. From concerts, to birthday parties, to races, to using any excuse to go see my parents and siblings, I won't hesitate to fill up my gas tank and hit the road. Some trips are only 1-2 hours, others are 7+ hours. My makeup bag doesn't get unpacked very often.

Sometimes living out of my duffle bag feels weird. Not staying my own bed gets old. I miss my space. But I remind myself that I am so blessed to have people worth going to see and spend time with. And I am blessed with people who allow be to stay in their guest rooms or sleep on the floor so we can spend a couple more hours together.

Sometimes the thing to do is meet in the middle and do something you all love. In this case, K-State football.

I am looking at moving to a new city soon that is about 2.5 hours away from this place I've made my home. One of my friends asked me how I am going to be able to say goodbye to the connections I've made down here. Her question made me pause for a second but the answer I came to is that I've done it before. I left my hometown to go to college. I left that college town to start my career. I am not trying to be insensitive because it is going to be so hard to leave these people. But I also know that I will still be friends with them. I'll be driving to see them in Wichita and I'll be asking them to come see me. I think this makes friendships even more intentional... and that is pretty special. It says "I love you on purpose, not just because you live a couple of minutes away."

Recently I have realized that the way we spend our time says a lot about what we love.

I'll NEVER miss a birthday party.

We make time for the people who matter to us. We drive the extra hours. We save up a bit to book a flight. We stay up a little later. We wake up early and make the drive home to hit Mass with our parents. We squeeze in one more coffee, one more conversation, one more song in the car before the night is over.

My family can't get together as often anymore, but when we do, the trip is always worth it.

There will always be a reason not to go. Work starts Monday. Gas isn't cheap. The drive is long. You're tired. Your apartment probably needs to be cleaned. Your own bed sounds really good.

A spontaneous Wednesday night never hurt anyone.

But there won't always be this exact version of our lives.

There won't always be parents who are home when you pull into the driveway. Siblings who are only a phone call or a quick weekend flight away. Friends who will stay up until 3 a.m. just because you are in town to see them. Guest rooms waiting for you. Wood floors that become perfectly good beds after a long night of laughing.

Go see your friends and meet their friends while you're at it. Trust me.

So, for now, I want to keep going.

I want to show up. I want to make the drive, go to the birthday party, watch the game, say yes to the concert, and find a way to be there even when being there isn't particularly convenient.

Some of my favorite memories have happened on weekend trips that involve lots of miles and only a few hours.

Maybe a full life isn't measured by how much time we spend in our own beds or in the perfect routine.

Maybe it is measured by how we use the time we have to be with the people we love.

I love getting to travel to support the kids in my life. Seeing them do the thing they are so passionate about is pretty special.

If that means a little more mileage on my car, a permanently half-packed duffle bag, and a few more nights sleeping in borrowed guest rooms or on couches, I think that's a pretty lucky way to spend my time.

If you told me that some of my best friends are my sister's sorority sisters, I would never have believed you... but here we are.

See what your friend is up to this weekend, it might be worth a visit.

All my love,

Neva