Running Robin ragged

Date March 16, 2009

Early on Saturday morning I found myself in the Manizales airport waiting on a friend I hadn’t seen in fifteen years to arrive.  I’m still not sure why she chose to come to Colombia of all places, but she did and she is my very first visitor from home.

Her hair is as red and curly as I remembered and her eyes are filled with life just like they were when we had tea parties and danced in sequins on the front porch of a house in a small, small town. 

She’s taking it all in and giving her Spanish a test run and she’s sleeping in my one room flat at the moment. 

I’ve fed her empanandas and bandeja paisa and postre de milo and I’ve made her walk the length of the Avenida and hike up to 15,000 feet on the Nevado del Ruiz.  She’s heard live salsa music and danced with Colombian men in a the early morning hours. 

And last night, as we sat in our pjs and laughed like little girls, she told me that if she didn’t leave the apartment again it would still be worth the trip.

I know exactly how she feels.

Category Posted in travel

6 Responses to “Running Robin ragged”

  1. Emerson said:

    March 16th, 2009 at 10:18 am

    Emily,
    Good to have a brief chat with you this morning.

    “She told me that if she didn’t leave the apartment again it would still be worth the trip.

    I know exactly how she feels.”

    What a beautiful sentiment! It sounds like a great “philosophy of life”—one I will try on today.
    Em

  2. Dani said:

    March 16th, 2009 at 10:37 am

    I for some reason can remember her face clear as day! I only remember seeing her one time and that was when we had a Witt gathering at my mama’s and we played king of the mountain on some red dirt piles. How I can remember that stuff and then call my kids all three names before I get the right one is beyond me!

    Sounds like y’all had a great time!

  3. deanna said:

    March 16th, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    Oh I remember Robin! And her basketball moves! 🙂 Where did she move off to anyway? It does sound like y’all had a memorable evening! I’m glad you were able to have a hometown friend to visit with.

  4. Lou said:

    March 17th, 2009 at 7:21 am

    I am so glad she was able to get there. It made me jealous (a little) at all the adventures and fun you had.

  5. Shelley said:

    March 18th, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Is this Robin Smith?? Glad you are having some home folk visit.

  6. Shelley said:

    March 18th, 2009 at 10:11 pm

    John and I are going to visit his parents in Ecuador eithe the end of May or beginnig of June. Maybe we could find a halfway place and meet or something.