Never Let Go of a Friend.....No Matter What!

It's a long story. 

Suffice it to say, that once upon a time I wrote a letter to someone in the State of New York asking if she'd like to be my pen pal.  I found her picture and short story in a 1970's women's magazine.  Back then, editors of these magazines had a Pen Pal section for their readers.  Anyway, I wrote the letter, received an answer, and the rest is history.

The two of us shared alot of the same interests, experienced more than a few synchronicities, and met each other in person three times.  Just like with all relationships, things sometimes happen that shouldn't.  But, I've learned the hard way that what we view as 'pot holes in the road' are in reality disguised necessities that eventually will recreate new futures for us.  And, I realize that's exactly what happened after I received a recent phone call from New York.

Our email inboxes are now steaming, and we laugh about how we used to have to wait weeks for handwritten letters to reach each other.  Back then, we wrote our letters on pretty stationery that we bought in boxes.  Now it's so slick cuz we're able to send multiple notes a day, skim over the lost years, fill in the blanks, and reminisce.

In one of L's emails yesterday, she sent to me the words that are on a tapestry hanging on her upstairs wall.  She reads it every day.  It doesn't surprise me that once again our worlds overlap with the Weaver's theme.....

My life is but a weaving, between my God and me;

I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily,

Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly;

Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why,

The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver's hand

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

               -Anonymous

We should never despair that our friendships might be unraveling and fraying away.  We forget there's an upper and underside to our lives.  A good lesson for sure.

I like to compare my heart to an English tea cup.  Fragile, but strong.  The English tea cup holds my friends......old, new, and in between.......those nearby and those far away.  I would not be who I am if their lives had not touched mine....in whatever profound way we may have met.  

As for this unique pen pal friendship.....well, L and her husband are coming to visit us in less than a month.  We're happy that the loom of life kept right on weaving these past years designing a pattern that was completely unbeknownst to us.  We're making plans for day trips to show them our special places, and we look forward to sharing meals together on our screened-in patio out back.  It's spring, and it's time for renewal.     

And, so the story goes............