Heartwarming connections

What a weekend behind! Actually what a beginning of year! Work wise it has been extremely intense period of the cycle with deliverables and deadlines on daily basis. Additional pressure from an important presentation to prepare and present on a complex issue to the whole directorate. In compensation, I do get unique opportunities to meet with the top of the ranks, as the Friday lunch meeting which turned out to be one of the most interesting discussions on current affairs. I cherish those moments and they do resource me in a surprising way. I think I have managed well. I always measure my success in terms of how patient I can remain with my children and husband The busier it get the more intentially I need to dedicate regular sessions of quiet in my daily routines, to stay calm in front of the waves of my tribe. It is really great times though. This week I attended gym competitions and last week swimming competitions. We practice the multiplication tables with another one. Weekends are 100% family time. This weekend was a peculier one, as we actually had a unique dinner invitation (I think generally there is post-covid inertia) with new friends. The uniqueness came on one part that we were the only foreigners among the 17 persons around the table, which is the first time in the 20 years here. Another friend said it is a sign you have become belgians! Another surprise was that as the evening advanced, I realised I was in the middle of this countries nobility. For a Nordic it seems rather unreachable as rare as they are, but in this country - as one of them rightly said - there is extensive wealth. Summa summarum, despite, the language, cultural and class barriers, I spend a very lovely and inspiring evening being immersed in the intriguing life of the nobles. We discussed about their family trees, hetage stories, children (all of us had 4 children) divorces (they seemed to be common, as was the high number of children, and marrying always among the noble lines).The Duke sitting opposite me had a huge castle, the one next to me was an antiquitaire as profession emptying also other people's castles. The duke on my left had just arrived from horse racing. I was amazed to what extent they were so charismatic caricatures of themselves ! The evening ended 1:30 with candies, donuts and ice -cream - served in beautiful silver baskets. I am touched beyond words for my friend's invitation to open her home and introduce to her family and close surroundings.As an adult and expat for decades I acknowledge having certain cynicism to forming frienships as they dissolve just when the relationship would have reached a deeper level due to change of country. Therefore, I was moved when my new friend said very frankly: "I want to get to know you and feel we have a connection, we will be friends for years to come". Well, I welcome open arms new genuine frienships in my life. How blessed and grateful we are.