In the Absence of One, the Gift of Another

Weeks ago, I had the opportunity to hang out with a friend from church. I’ve spent time with her in group settings before, but this was our first one-on-one meetup. Since my mother didn’t come this summer, as she has every summer for the past eight years, I decided to invite Nivi on my traditional summer lunch that I usually share with my mom. We went to one of my favorite restaurants here in Bratislava called Fach.

It made me a little sad not to take my mom there this year. Her absence has been felt deeply in our everyday rhythms. But I’m also thankful that I still got to go, and that I got to go with a friend.

It took us a little while to find the restaurant because it turns out they had remodeled and changed the entrance since I was last there. I was surprised by the updates. The space lost a little of its cozy charm, but the remodel was still beautifully done. The light inside was perfect, the food still just as delicious, and I loved how they planted trees indoors. It added such a fresh, calming atmosphere. I’ve already decided that when I turn 42, I’d love to celebrate my birthday there.

Nivi and I had a wonderful time together. I feel like I got to know her in a new way, and I hope she got to know a little more about me too. Making new friends and building relationships isn’t always easy, but I know it’s worth it. It takes time, and that time is part of what makes the process beautiful.

After brunch, we took a long walk to the Bratislava Castle and stopped for ice cream. The ice cream in Old Town is always so good. We also visited a shop I’ve been following on Instagram for a long time. There was a cup I had told them I wanted to buy, and it had taken me months to finally go and get it. I’m glad I did. We also picked up tiny bouquets of flowers, which felt like such a sweet touch to the day. I bought the cup and saucer I had been eyeing, but I think that might be my last purchase there for a while since the prices are a bit high.

One of my quiet goals this summer was to connect more with friends and take steps to build new relationships. Now that summer is coming to a close, I have just one more week left, and I believe I’ve reached that goal. It hasn’t been the summer I expected, but it’s been full in its own way. I’m thankful.