Oh How I Missed This!

Daphne and I just prior to her departure this morning.

Amazingly enough, I am still in touch with all three of my bridesmaids on a level that, when we meet up after a long absence, we just continue on with each other as if we've never been apart. Of course there's always lots of catching up to do, but there's never awkwardness. It's just back to communicating like in the "old days".

My maid of honor, Anita, only lives 35 minutes away from me. She and I attend the same church. I used to be her daycare provider before we moved to the acreage. We're in touch with each other by phone practically every-other-day and we see each other weekly.

My second bridesmaid, Daphne, and I are pictured above. I'll get to her in a minute.

My third bridesmaid, Liesa, lives close to me too. I try to connect with her every few months by having lunch or coffee together. She's a true gem. She's been recently married and although introverted by nature, communicates openly and freely when we meet. I feel safe with her and I wish I could spend more time with her than I do. But I cherish the fact that she's still part of my life.

Back to Daphne. She lives in Manitoba, and the last time I saw her was 4 years ago. She just left this morning with her family after arriving on Sunday. Being back together with her was wonderful. She's a step mom too, so I got to get to know her two stepdaughters and toddler a little bit better over the past several days.

It was so great for me to have company over because I finally relaxed in my own back yard! Up until now, the yard has just been a place for me to work in; to upkeep; I haven't really had a chance to enjoy it. I know that sounds strange, but that's what acreage life is like. Just when you've finished mowing everything and weeding (not everything, but as much as you can), it all begins again. It's just a cycle. And so it's hard to sit down and relax in the great outdoors because it can become a constant reminder of all the work that you haven't done yet. So, having my friend visit forced me to a place to just sit. And talk. And talk. And talk.

Daphne requested that I assist her in highlighting her hair by using a home-highlighting kit. What would have taken a hairdresser only an hour to complete took me hours. My assigned task was to pull thousands of hair through tiny holes in a plastic cap with the aid of a crochet-hook type tool, followed by the actual coloring process. It was fun. And time consuming. But the end result was quite nice. I think I will now call Daphne "Blondissimo".

It was during my new-found love of hair-dyeing that my friend and I were able to discuss the quandaries of life in the areas of parenting, step-parenting, marriage, spirituality, friendship, finances, aging and hair. Like I said, it's like we never left. We just kept on where we left off four years ago. It's not that we haven't spoken to each other since we last saw each other. We have. But it's just different when you meet up face-to-face.

Reflecting on friendships from my past and present have made me a bit nostalgic for the good old days of attending Bible College (that's where I met all three of my bridesmaids) and then living in Saskatoon as roommates with my maid of honor and being closer to the other girls distance-wise. And although our lives have taken different twists and turns in the past ten years, these women have impacted me. They have helped create who I am today. All three have been sounding boards for me for different concerns. They've shown their care in tangible ways. I'm so blessed to have them in my life.

So to Anita, Daphne and Liesa: Thank you! You are precious jewels in my lifelong collection of friends.