Silver Threads and Golden Needles

I just recently reconnected with an old friend by way of Facebook (yeah, I may have to have a talk with Betty White about this to explain to her why Facebook does have some value). It has been delightful to reminisce about the past with my friend as well as bring her up to date on what my family has been doing the last few decades or so. (Can time really have passed so quickly?) 

When we met we were both young marrieds (okay how about just younger, or I will feel ancient)  starting families and having adventures together. Our husbands were in the military at that time which brought us together as friends faster than we might have otherwise because we learned to depend on each other. The "guys" were gone much of the time, so we coped in various ways: we got to know our surroundings (this children was before GPS, so sometimes you just have to go the long way), we took some classes (otherwise known as "how I know that I should never ever try to make my own pottery"), she taught me how to crochet (I can still crochet a border around a knitted blanket!) and we did a lot of growing up. (I know I did anyway).

As it has been a few years since we last saw each other, I found myself trying to sum up my life over the past couple of decades. Have you tried to do this recently? If you have a family member who sends out "Christmas letters" (and I do) (I also enjoy reading them, don't misunderstand!) imagine trying to put together twenty or so of them in a couple of pages, from an increasingly faulty memory. (And yes, I didn't want to linger over some the the less than glowing parts). Fortunately there is a lot of Good Stuff: happy family (loving husband with good job, wonderful son with beautiful fiancee), lovely home filled with happy animals situated beside a peaceful river (want to throw yourself over the side yet?). Anyway, I won't go into the Bad Stuff right now, as I spent too much time with it when it was happening.

But looking backwards can be a gift of sorts; as the memories don't always present themselves in a organized fashion, I discover new "threads" to follow through the memories. (Do you see the knitting analogy there?) Something that didn't make any sense at the time about a choice I made. (Sorry, I didn't mean to make this sound like a college essay). Mostly what I noticed when I started trying to explain what happened to my family over the past couple of decades was (warning: Cliche coming!) how fast it all went by and yet how long ago it felt! (Okay those of you on the right side of the room will take the first part and those of you on the left side of the room will take the last part. Papers will be due tomorrow)

I want to add that reconnecting with an old friend (sorry,not old, just older) is a delightful thing. Most people don't react by becoming all broody like me (isn't broody a great word?).  I could now show you a picture of a knitted project or animal, would that help?