When I count my blessings, at the top of the list are friends. I don’t have a lot of what I call friends around me. I guess I am picky.
A friend, by my definition is pure gold. They don’t ask anything of you but love, understanding and a shoulder for support in times of need and they give back to me, equal amounts. They don’t care if you are a size 4 or a size 20. They hug you anyhow.
My oldest friend is Allison. I met her in Kindergarten and we traveled the whole school system together. We don’t see each other, but it doesn’t matter. My friendship with her doesn’t need to be seen, but I know every year in October, I will get a birthday card and in Decemeber a Christmas card. Like clockwork. She would send postcards when she was in Italy and traveling Europe. I would write letters of cradle cap and diaper rash. We moved in different circles, but Allison is my constant. I will always know she is there for me.
Then as life moved me along, I ended up with Pallas and Flora. I can’t think of two more glorious friends to have in life. They would do anything with me, for me or anyone in my family. They have taught me patience (I didn’t have much) and an appreciation of too many things to mention. Pallas is a gifted artist in so many ways and her humbleness is short of amazing. If I had half of her abilities, I would be screaming, “LOOK what I did! I am wonderful!” She quietly creates the most beautful of things and never mentions them again.
Flora. Oh, she is my treasure. Her and husband Ben are my family. I used to watch Flora like a hawk. She taught me to be giving and more thoughtful. She makes me laugh and laugh easily at my antics. She is giving and I can tell her anything and everything. She loves me just for who I am..no more, no less. There was a time I had surrounded myself with people that always made me feel as if I was, well, stupid! Flora was the one that first one that said, “are you kidding?” She gave me self worth, something I never had before.
My surprise friend is Sherri. Many years ago, I used to frequent a jewelry store. Met the owners and as years went on, the children took a huge role in the business. Peggy, Mike and Frank were the kids and Bonnie owned the store. There was another girl, but I had only slightly known of her. Then, I heard about Sherri opening a knit store and who she was…the missing daughter! I went in to visit Bonnie and the rest and there was Sherri. She is my instant friend. Once you meet Sherri, you have to love her. She gives off such an energy of love, all you do it take it and run. We chat online and visit at the store went I can pull a baby off my thigh. Peyton is NOT a kid that does well in a yarn store.
Then there is Tennessee. How would I ever get to Tennessee? In October a few years ago, my father died. It wasn’t long after that and I bid on some fiber on Ebay and because of a dentist appointment, I missed the bid. I wrote the lady and she sold me some of the same fiber, but not at the bidding price, the cheaper price. She didn’t have to, but she did. I thought, wow…what an honest dealer. Her name was Glenda.
In the course of the fiber coming here, she mentioned her father had just passed in October and her mother was visiting in the state of Washington. A few more emails and we found out that our fathers passed a few hours apart. Then we were hooked on each other. Emails were almost daily. I flew to meet her and Perry a few years later and we have been sisters since. I have visited 3 times and attended the Celtic Festival in Jackson. I love Tennessee.
New friends…I count three on that hand. Nancy (yes, another Nancy) and I are more like Thelma and Louise. If there there is anyone louder than me, it is her. We traveled the entire states together in 10- days and laughed until we cried. Never a cross word or a sharp tone. I think we were cut out of the same cloth. Our humor is so similar, it is uncanny and gets us into all kinds of fits of hysteria. We are often uncontrollable! I can call her and say, “Help” and before the phone is laid back in the cradle, she is there. Never asks questions…she knows she is needed. She has the most generous heart of anyone I know. She is the kind of friend that will pull a sliver out of your butt and not laugh..until it is over! She loves gin and Dr. Pepper, but not together.
Jackie. She is the other half of Terry and Jackie. We love them so much, we got them to buy a house three doors down. We exchange house keys and share our grandbabies with each other. Terry, is a teddy bear standing about 6′5″ and weighing in less than a Toyota pick up. When Mike was in the hospital, Terry came every day to visit us and see if there was anything I needed. He is a love. Then Jackie moved up here and she is a spitfire. High energy and gets things done. Love them.
My newest friend is Tori. I was blindsided by her friendship. Never saw it coming, and from such an unlikely source. I joined facebook and there she was. She added me to her friend list and we started to write.
I didn’t know Tori all that well through high school. She was always bubbly and energetic, but we had different classes and friends. I had the honor of having her father for English in 9th grade and he was a lovely man, and teacher. He was the coach for football and I learned to love football early on.
Tori and I write every morning and I have come to enjoy these letters. She is such a positive person and brings out the best in me. We chat about fighting fat, raising our daughters and now, we have grandchildren to brag about. I am hopeful we will get to visit sometime during the summer. It will be fun to see what 40+ years has done to us. I know, for me, I am just rounder! She looks the very same.
I write this to tell these people that are in my life that I cherish each one of you. Sometimes we forget to honor those that have done so much for us. Because of you, I think and hope I am a better person and a better friend. I have accepted your love and many kindnesses and I hope, I haven’t let you down. My world would be such a bleak place without you. No matter what is tossed to me in this uncertain path we all walk, I am stronger, wiser and more capable for knowing you men and women in my life.
I have always wanted to walk to the lighthouse at the end of Dungeness spit, or hook, whichever you prefer to call it. We have lived here almost 17 years and I have gone by boat “past” the lighthouse, but never hiked the beach. For Mother’s Day, Mike suggested to go…hike to the Lighthouse! I was so exited. It was my personal Boston Marathon. 