There was an opportunity to visit two friends in Austin, Texas last November 9 and 10 after the National Association of REALTORS Convention in New Orleans (see my previous blogpost for the New Orleans story).

From that visit, I’ve learned a few things:

Colorado River at the Background

1. Friendship trancends time and space; you become friends because you decide to become friends – Mauro is a friend from 1st grade who I haven’t seen for a long time. Over the years we’ve only heard about each other through other friends. Lately though, we had contacted one another through our batch’s egroup. It was from that communication that the plan to meet was hatched.

2. You don’t need to be friends for a long time to become friends for life – From the egroup, I learned about Rigel, who joined the batch when they were in High School. The visit in Texas was the first time we’ve met. However we found out that we have a lot in common: swimming, biking, ham radio, computers, table tennis, keeping fit, our faith, family, and our friends.

The beautiful skyline of downtown Austin, Texas

The Texas Capitol Building

3. Time is valuable for friendship to blossom – We only had a short time but we spend a good deal of it in meaningful activities. We have deep conversation over pancakes and salad at IHOP. We had pictorials at the Texas Capitol building and elsewhere. Mauro recorded an interview and taught me how to make videos (he gave me a flip videocam). Rigel explained to me how to blog. How wonderful and amazing.

Indeed, there is nothing bigger than the friendship I have with Mauro and Rigel. After that visit, I have seen the truth to the saying: “everything is big in Texas”.

To my dear friends, thank you.