The following entry is an answer to a writing prompt from a book that is special to me. We lose ourselves in books. We find ourselves there, too.
I’ve known her since we were three years old. We met on the swings in her backyard one hot summer day. Dressed in our play clothes of polyester shorts and matching tops, we giggled and swung our tiny bodies as high as we could to see who’d touch the sky first.
We spent long summer days playing hopscotch, swimming in the town pool and lying on our backs, side-by-side, in the coolness of the grass to watch the clouds gently roll by.
I wish I could remember what we talked about. I’m sure we believed that our thoughts were more important that anything else happening in the world. You can bet that’s when we started to dream our dreams and set our intentions in motion about how we wanted our lives to unfold.
Those days were filled with magic.
Today her career takes her far away and many months pass until we can meet again. I take comfort in knowing that wherever she is we are always together in spirit.
We’re in each other’s corner, feeling each other’s pains, joys and sorrows. In a world that seems to be going absolutely mad our friendship is a safe, solid place to fall.
The other day I was cleaning up after a long day of work when I came across a special gift she sent me years ago. It’s not unusual for her to send me gifts, and none are sent to commemorate a special occasion. They’re simply meant to let me know that she’s thinking of me. Each one is meaningful in its own way and holds a special place in my heart.
This gift was tucked away near the bottom of a neat pile of my (many) unread books. It’s a journal of 300 writing prompts with blank pages; brief questions line the top of each page in bold, black letters. They nudge me to get my creative juices flowing when I’m at an impasse.
I began to leaf through a few pages and my mind started to wander. And so it began.
This was a great gift, greater than I knew when I first received it. The magic of this book must have been what my friend wanted me to have all along. To be a writer, the best one I can be, a wish she wanted for me so long ago. She’s one smart cookie. But I already knew that when she was the one on the swings who touched the sky first.
How lovely!
Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Lovely post.
that was lovely and a great tribute to a special friend - what would we do without them?
I LOVE this. My stepdaughter gave me a book of writing prompts for Christmas. It meant so much to me because she cares about what I do. That was as good as the book itself.
This essay is perfection, Cathy. You know I've been rooting for you, too. What an amazing friend. I hope I get to meet her someday. xo
I could smell the summer air and picture two adorable little ones swinging. What wonderful memories and what a beautiful gift. I sometimes think our books find us just at the right moment. I have stacks too and find treasures that I had forgotten. Wishing you many contented moments of writing and remembering.
So sweet! The mark of a true friend is letting you know how special you are, even if it's not your birthday. No wonder this friend has been in your life forever. I know she would say you are just as good a friend to her as she is to you.
What a lovely gift and what a lovely tribute. You are a born writer and I'm sure your friend saw it from the very beginning. We all have a special gift and yours is delivering words that mean the world to others. You enlighten people, you soothe their minds while they are dealing with tortured bodies, and you make every single one of your readers feel as if they have received a special gift each time they load your page!
Such a special gift! She knew what you were meant to be, possibly before even you did. THAT is a great friend!
What a lovely gift from a lovely person. I can see why you inspired it, too. And I'll bet you're having fun with it.
I hope your friend gets to see this post, which is a tribute to her as much as to our dreams and memories.
What a beautiful post. I just received Christmas gifts from a friend in Australia. I worked with her years ago (18!) and we have stayed in touch via letters, email, FB, and now Skype. I was able to visit her in 2014, which was amazing. It was so wonderful to get Christmas gifts in February! But it's the friendship and what those gifts represent that mean so much more. XOXO
I too had a very special friend. As I watched the two of you grow up
, it made me so happy that my daughter would be blessed like me..Distance and absence never ends a true friendship. My friend is gone now but I have the warm memories that will stay with me the rest of my life..
I pray you both have many more years to add to you memory book. So proud of you. To
. .
The meaning of the gift, that she supports your writing is beautiful and your words made me teary. What a special friendship.
My grandson gave me a cook book for my birthday, a cook book that he dictated to his mom. He's five. It's filled with recipes that he created. I think it's probably the best thing I got for my birthday, besides just LOVE.
This melts my heart. Beautifully written. Even more special since you're both my friends! Love you Cath. XOX
I am guilty of not always expressing my gratitude for the things in life that I should be grateful for! I respect that you do so eloquently. How exciting that you are exciting to attend the MS Consortium! Look forward to hearing all about it.
What a fantastic gift for a writer. I love the feel of a pen on a fresh page.
What a tender mercy your gift is.
I just love that pic...it says it all. So heartwarming.
Beautiful post with a heartwarming message, Cathy!
What a lovely declaration of women friendship! Just love it Cathy!!