Friendship Revisited

Our garden had a visitor today, and got me in the process. She came to see the garden, but we spent more time catching up on each other's lives in the family room. Brenda (more affectionately known as 'Brennie') e-mailed me on Monday and asked if she might come see the garden on Tuesday. Of course!

This morning arrived amid gray cloudy skies and rumbles of thunder. The radar showed what looked like rain approaching from the west. Brennie e-mailed again and said,"...today is not looking very promising for a garden tour :( what do you think?? " I think a little rain never hurt gardens or people.

I kept reading, and she went on to say, "Rain or Shine I'll be over just to see you!!!" That's my girl! And by the time she came and we'd hugged and talked and laughed together a bit, the rain was over.

We headed out to the garden, where Brennie placed two stones she'd brought for our cairn. One, she chose because it looked like a tooth. With a cavity. Brenda and I had worked together for years in a dental office in Van Wert. We were a tightly knit group and though it's been 14 years since I worked there, I still see many of the people I worked with and count them as my friends.

The second stone she brought really touched my heart. It was a round, speckled ball of granite-looking stuff, and Brennie explained why she had to bring it, too. She said she'd never seen a stone so perfectly round before and that it reminded her of me. She used the word 'perfect'. Oh, Brennie, you really need to hang around with me more, girl! Your impression of me in this way would do a 180! She then explained that the different colors in the stone represented my many interests, and when the sun shone on the stone, it sparkled. Like me.

I think Brennie is the new president of my fan club.

Seriously, what a wonderful way to start a day, having your ego inflated like that. But what meant the most to me was who had said it. You see, I view Brenda as a person of high caliber. She's got integrity, compassion, and a positive outlook on life. Our visit made me realize how much I miss being around her.

Why do we do this? We let people that we once knew very well drift out of our lives. We all do it. Changes in the logistics of our lives puts distance between us that is unavoidable. Jobs change, we get busy with our kids, and we keep moving on down the road, leaving those wonderful relationships behind, or at least putting them on a shelf, meaning to take them down later. And sometimes later never comes.

Thank you, Brennie, for taking the time to come visit my garden, but more for coming to see me and making me realize how fortunate I am to know you. It's people like you who have put that sparkle in my life.