Friends to the rescue

Yesterday I went to campus for the first time as a new faculty, and as I was sitting in my nearly empty office, and with almost nobody around the department yet, I started feeling a little sad and lonely. Then, on my walk from campus to my place (a nice 25 minute stroll in the sun), a few sweet friends came to rescue. Crispin called and we chatted as I shopped at the local dollar store (okay, I am still broke), then I found a sweet voice-mail from Deb, then back at the apartment my mailbox was full of treasures: a 'welcome' letter from Lisa and a notice about a package that was sent to me by Calla, which I will pick up tomorrow. Then, later, I talked with Irooshka and got a call from my dear friend Caroline, who is temporarily in Seattle from Brazil. Thank you, my friends, you made my day.