Then (1985) & Now (2010)

These pictures are from my mission, 25 years ago (gulp). The gorgeous blonde was my mission companion for four months. Her name was Gitte Hansen and she was from Denmark. We served together in Loraine, OH and had a great time together. Every month we would beg for just one more month together. We must have been persuasive because we got four months. People would ask if we were sisters, which of course I thought was totally "awesome" (as we used to say alot back then). Not sure how Gitte felt about it.
Of course we both returned to our respective homes after our missions were through. Both of us married and became the mother of boys (Gitte has two) and settled down into domestic bliss.
We have kept in touch over the years through Christmas cards mostly. Gitte even called me on the phone once a few years back which was a very nice surprise. We would always talk about seeing each other one day but not necessarily with any expectation that we would.
So you can imagine my surprise and excitement when Gitte e-mailed me a few months ago about possibly come to see me ever so briefly. Seems she was planning a trip to Salt Lake City for General Conference and thought she might plan a little layover in Seattle. I was pretty "psyched" (also a word we used alot back then). Well it worked out perfectly, because she flew into Seattle around noon the Wednesday before we had our Spring Break. I picked up her and her mom (who is totally a cutie) at the airport. We were able to spend that day through to noon on Thursday together (she spent time with another friend here in Seattle from noon Thursday to noon Friday).
We had a great time (or should I say awesome) reminiscing about old times, old friends, old companions and also catching up with each other. It was amazing how little time it seemed had passed and yet it has been 25 years!! We seemed to just fit right back into that groove of where we left off. There was no awkwardness (well except for the fact that I am a lousy housekeeper and they were staying at my house.) These "now" pictures are from Sunset Park just a few blocks from our house. I also took them to see where the kids go to school and I work, the church building, and the UW campus.
She had a jam packed trip (literally, it was crazy) so it was super cool (another word we used alot back then) that we got as much time as we did together. I hope some day I can return the visit and go see her and her family in Denmark. I will have to add that to my "list".
Dennis says he thinks we both look better now than back then. All I know is that it was fun to see her again. I'm so glad I know her and that she is still a part of my life. She is warm, generous, caring, thoughtful...all those good things. It is a friendship that I will treasure forever!