Good news: I have friends living all around the world that I've been fortunate enough to visit.
Bad news: My friends live all around the world, so I don't get to see them too often.
Lucky for me, I was able to meet up with Kate in Grand Rapids last weekend. She was back from Nicaragua for her yearly visit home for the summer. Kate and I met in Calvin Band (surprise, surprise - I really am a band geek!) in college and we lived in a house together (and shared a room) our junior year. We are actually a Myers-Briggs type indicator compatible personality match and she is the perfect zany to my seriousness After all, only Kate would give me a large piece of smoked salmon wrapped up in a Victoria's Secret bag for my birthday! (for MBTI geeks out there, she's an ISFP and I'm an ESTJ)
For nostalgia's sake, I dug through my archives to find other trips and things I've done with Kate since starting the blog...exploring Jackson Hole, WY, learning how to play Guitar Hero, a Detroit-a-thon museum tour, visiting Ohio with a rainy trip to Cedar point with 4/5 house roommates, and, of course, traveling to visit her in Nicaragua with Jon two years ago.
My camera caught a picture of a car driving through our heads back in our old stomping grounds on 60th St. - perfect!
We caught up with each other over a visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens and Fields Fabrics and a leisurely dinner together. I really miss having close friends living nearby, so it was the perfect pick me up after my long week!
Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures were on display at the Gardens and I loved seeing how he incorporated these in with the garden landscapes. I wish they had shared details about how each piece of glass was physically added to the space (chains, buoys, long poles, etc.?), but it was fun to guess on our own.
Those sculptures are so cool! I should have stopped over after summer camp.
{ENTJ here}
Posted by: Angela | 04 August 2010 at 11:54 AM
Woah. Those sculptures are completely crazy!
Posted by: Mandy | 04 August 2010 at 01:29 PM
I LOVE the Chihuly glass in the garden. We saw it when it was Atlanta, but there are some different ones at your garden. Are they having them lit at night at all?
Posted by: Anne | 04 August 2010 at 02:59 PM
Wow, what a cool concept. I've seen Dale Chihuly's work in various museums, but never outside.
Posted by: Valerie | 04 August 2010 at 03:02 PM
How lovely to spend time with your friend! Those glass sculptures are just amazing - the spiky ball one looks like it would have to be blown in place, lol! I'd love to see the installation of these.
Posted by: Allie | 04 August 2010 at 03:17 PM
Chihuly! My best friend and I saw his work at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago back in 2002 and fell in love with it!
I was able to show my husband a similar exhibit in St Louis a couple of years ago, too.
It is AWESOME to see it and wonder how it was all rigged up. Great photos, too!
Posted by: Shea | 04 August 2010 at 03:57 PM
Those Chihuly glass sculptures are gorgeous! We get to enjoy some of his work here in Seattle/Tacoma area too.
Posted by: Trisha | 04 August 2010 at 05:36 PM
Those glass sculptures are amazing....It makes me think my mind is bland and totally uninspired when I see such creativity. Really -- who thinks to do this kind of stuff? I don't even dream in such vibrant colors.
I'm glad you're having the chance to reconnect with old friends.
Posted by: Jodi | 04 August 2010 at 07:51 PM
You went to Calvin?! I know a bunch of people that went there, maybe we even know a few of the same?
Posted by: wienerdoglove | 04 August 2010 at 08:13 PM
Love the glass, that must have been amazing to see in person. Glad you got to catch up with an old friend, seems like the perfect way to end a week!
Posted by: Stephanie | 04 August 2010 at 08:16 PM
Looks like you had a great time....and that glass is a.maz.ing. Just gorgeous...
Posted by: Jenny@Anything Pretty | 04 August 2010 at 09:30 PM
Yay for meeting up with and spending time with friends! Those sculptures are amazing. Just beautiful.
Posted by: MichelleB | 05 August 2010 at 12:51 AM
Gorgeous pictures, those glass sculptures are amazing!
Posted by: Miss White Wall | 05 August 2010 at 06:38 AM
wow, those sculptures are amazing!
Posted by: flora | 05 August 2010 at 08:09 AM
wow, those glass sculptures are so neat!
Posted by: Nichole | 05 August 2010 at 09:30 AM
I love outdoor installation art! My visit to Loch Lomond (which disappointingly has a mall on its shores) was saved by an art walk with really interesting pieces embedded in nature. I'll have to check this artist out!
I can empathize with your friends yay/distance nay situation. Glad you got to touch base!
Posted by: CitricSugar | 05 August 2010 at 02:51 PM
I love the art...but what I want to say is "No, I don't go by Becky." I am a Rebecca; I always introduce myself as Rebecca, and I expect to be called Rebecca. At least until you know me a good long time, then you can call me Becca or Bec or Becs, like I call myself. But, then again, I've known me for a good long while.
Posted by: Rebecca | 05 August 2010 at 05:57 PM
hooray for meetups with old friends! i'm glad you two had a wonderful visit!
i love the chihuly photos - he is such an amazing artist... mind-blowing beauty.
Posted by: melissa | 06 August 2010 at 02:25 PM
such a cool place! i'm glad you had such a wonderful time together. i understand full well what it's like to have friends so far away, it certainly makes the visits all the sweeter though!
Posted by: cmv | 31 August 2010 at 09:03 AM