Friends in Many Places

**Note: All "friend" puns are absolutely INTENDED

Two hours south of San Francisco Sebastian and I were climbing up the dirt road to The Quaker Center in Santa Cruz. Just a week prior we'd gotten an e-mail from Gretta and Jacob, a Quaker couple inviting us to come stay at the center for as long as we want. I've known Jacob and Gretta since I was a little girl, back when I wore scrunchies and went to Quaker meeting with my family every sunday. Our meeting's newsletter, which had mentioned that Seb and I were traveling across the country, made it all the way out to our friends in Santa Cruz and they invited us to stay at the retreat center in which they've been care takers for the past couple years.

I wasn't sure what to expect, by Jacob's estimation I hadn't seen either of them since I was fourteen and brought pom-poms into sunday meeting. As soon as we pulled up, however, I felt like I was at home. The buildings and grounds looked so much like the Quaker camp I went to every spring with my meeting (and my quaker bestie, Naner Tafoya). The center was simple, beautiful, and peaceful. Jacob and Gretta welcomed us with open arms and set us up in the Sojouners cabin across the way. Over the next two days we wandered around the center's trails through the redwoods, walked their stone labrynth, and caught up on our reading. Gretta and Jacob had us over for delicious vegan dinner both nights and the four of us talked like old friends (get it? ahhaa).

I'd forgotten just what it was that I loved about Quakerism...you know, besides all that loving kindness, peaceful resolution, truthful equality kind of stuff. Gretta and Jacob reminded me of what I'd missed about meeting all this time-- the community. I missed being surrounded by such tolerant, caring, and welcoming people. People like Gretta and Jacob who encourage you to go on adventures, meet new people, try new things, question the old, and to always always be kind. They reminded me that wherever I go there is a community there that would welcome and accept me.

There couldn't have been a better time for us to remember just how many friends we have in this world.