RAMBLINGS.................April 2010

Ramblings April 2010

By Diane Sawdon

The calendar tells me that the month is April, but Mother Nature is still holding on to Old Man Winter. It is 38 degrees outside as I sit here and type this missive. The calendar also states that today is Easter Sunday. I hope that all of you had some joy in your lives today. If you were fortunate enough to have found this emotion today whether in church, in nature, in celebrations with family and friends or in a contemplative and peaceful time all alone, then you were blessed! My joy came from seeing the pure innocence, faith and delight on the faces of my three granddaughters. They just knew that the Easter Bunny had paid a visit to their backyard. They never saw him and they never heard him, but their belief was strong and he did appear at some unknown moment and leave such colorful treasures that tickled their very spirits. For me, it was seeing those simple delights of life through the eyes of a child. We all need a good dose of this medicine now and then to renew our own spirit. On this day of days, there is a message here about belief for all of us.

I have been thinking about friends and the meaning of friendship these past weeks. Friends are not universal. There is no one size fits all. Friends come in many sizes, shapes, colors, ages, and genders. I feel that different friends serve distinct and separate areas of our lives. Hopefully, one has life long friends that have graced your days and years and knew you then and still like you now. I feel that mine are an extension of my family. Maybe I do not see them as often as I would like, but my hours spent in their company are rare treats. I hope you know who you are. 

I have those special friends who have shared my “employed” days with me. We shared so many trials and tears teaching Kindergarten together. The bonus of those years are the students who have found me on facebook. They are no longer categorized as former students~~~they are rank and file friends of mine who enrich my days with their youthful take on life. I am “employed” again, or maybe I have just reinvented myself. These special people at Prospector’s Nursery (www.prospectorsnursery.com) have made me realize that it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks. And, I am, most definitely, the old dog.

Leaving the home I knew for almost half a century and moving to the foothills five years ago, left me friendless in a new town. It was a miserable existence for some months. Where were those reliable folks who enriched my days?? But I met new neighbors who have turned into the “rest of my life friends.” We have shared so many hours in each other’s company, most filled with laughter, good food and some good wine!! Welcome, too, to our new neighbors and friends who have joined us on this voyage of reinvention here in the foothills. You all enrich my days and I am so happy that you are here.

I saved the best for last~~~~~my forever friend, the man who makes me laugh, who puts up with me and has been my VERY BEST friend for almost 42 years. I hope you all have those special people in your lives, too.