It snowed yesterday and last night. Just a dusting, maybe an inch on the grassy areas and rooftops. Humans and global warming are messing with the weather. Living alone, I am the one who puts up the Christmas lights outside my house. I am also the person who needs to take them down. I have that task on my list of things to do later this week...it's spring break here, and I'm having a stay-cation. I don't mind staying home, I have plenty "to do". As my lights aren't on my list to come down until late in the week...I flipped them on last night. The rebel in my soul smiled. Take that unspoken rules! Twinkle lights on, during a March snow.
Breaking from my norm, today I am meeting a girl friend. I still cannot hear. In addition to not hearing, I also seemed to be unable to read. Our text clearly says 1o'clock. I read it as 10. Time for an adventure! I spent a short time reassuring my friend I am perfectly fine. My bad, I read our message wrong. I'll see her, when I see her. Then, I checked google maps...what local coffee shops are here? I am a lover of small town coffee shops! I am out of town for the day. It feels good to break from my routine. It's refreshing to go where I can watch the world around me, while I contemplate about how blessed I truly am.
Friendships. I know I've said this before, they are precious to me. Every chance I get, I love connecting with my friends. Most particularly... I cherish connecting with this friend. She's been my confidant for a very long time. Sometimes, I feel like she's my guardian angel here on Earth. I am not sure she understands how much she really means to me. I know we 'watch' one another on social media. My heart radiates happiness when I see pictures of her smiling with her own children, or with her grandchildren. Our friendship is deeper than that though. She knows my secrets, both from long ago and more recent. She knows my heart ache, and she knows my joy. She is witnessing my rebirth. When I stumble and am feeling like I'm free falling, her words scoop me up, and ground me. She is to be credited with helping me move forward emotionally. I don't think there is anything I wouldn't do for her.
We all need a friend like this. We all need a friend who truly loves every ounce of our being. A friend who accepts us as we are, whether we are perfect or not. We all need someone to whom we can tell our deepest secrets. I believe we all need this kind of a friendship, and it needs to lay with someone with whom we aren't romantically involved. And we all need this friend, who can, on a whim, meet us for lunch...even when they don't live in the same town.
As I look out on the busy main street, the sunshine streaming in is warming my body. I am watching the people who are entering and dining in this little place. Groups of men...co-workers, maybe and several couples. Many couples are older, the one nearest to me is sharing a BLT. They are talking and laughing. I can't hear details of the conversations, but I can hear the laughter and feel the happiness that is adding to the ambience. Local coffee shops are on the fringes of mainstream life. Friendships, like coffee shops, can offer a place of safety, a place of connectedness, and a place of peace.
I am grateful for my adventure this morning, and the opportunity to witness the happiness of others.
I am grateful I have a friend whom I can hug. I can't wait to see her!
~Lisa
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