Monday, May 30, 2011

Grateful

Like Laura, with our many childhood moves, I was often lonely and longing for a good friend. My young prayers were regularly heartfelt pleadings for friends. I have certainly been blessed in my life with very good friends. Ronni and I have been friends for almost 20 years now. The weekend before the May long weekend she swooped in to help me. At that time my garden consisted of one bed with early plantings of lettuce, mustard, kale, etc. and 9 overgrown beds that would have looked better in the lawn... It was so overwhelming I couldn't bring myself to start despite 60 tomato plants which were almost ready to be planted. She hates gardening. Her garden consists of 5 pots of herbs on her patio that she complains if she has to weed once or twice. But she was there, spade in hand, digging and weeding one of my largest beds. Pretty soon Dean joined us and tackled one of the worst beds. By the time she left, it was starting to look a lot more like a garden than a weed patch! While I spent every waking moment in my garden, she cooked and cleaned and made her usual gourmet quality food.

Then she took me out for the dreaded job of finding my 'mother-of-the-bride' dress. We went to every store in Vernon and Kelowna that carries women's wear. Did you know that patterns are in this year? And I needed a solid? And did you know that all those little original-looking boutique shops really carry just the same thing but at different prices? We saw the exact same dress in almost every shop only varying in price from $75 - $200. The stores were almost closing and we had not found a dress that I loved. We had one reserved as back up but I hated the way it made my knees look - which showed. (And I know all you knock-kneed sisters know what I'm talking about!) We stumbled upon a Melanie Lynn shop with 30 minutes to spare. We had the nicest sales lady we had had all day. And we got my dress. Its dark blue. And its rather form fitting. (I wanted a full skirt but there is no such animal in solid colour in Kelowna or Vernon). Ah, the elation of having that difficult problem settled.

We were all along for this long day of shopping - Eryn, Andrew, Rhiannon and Ronni's daughter. Eryn had taken the girls to H2O about half way through the day. So now, mission accomplished, we picked them up and went out for dinner. A wonderful long dinner at Kelsey's in Kelowna where we talked and laughed and shared good food and lingered there for more than 2 hours. It was the perfect ending to our day. One of those moments that you try to memorize to remember often.

The next morning our mission was shoes for R & M who are the flower girls at the wedding and for me. We managed to get them all at the Vernon Mall. Then we drove them to the airport and saw them off. It was a whirlwind visit but we got so much done. It was the support that I needed to feel like I could actually do this. She left with my heart full of gratitude for this friendship. It has been a long one and it has been a reciprocal one. I have been there for her in the same way. It is one where we spend a lot of time laughing and we have done our share of crying, too. It is such a great gift to have a friend like that. She whooshed in and with typical Ronni style, she just got everything on track with her complete belief that it could be done.

6 comments:

Beth-a-knee said...

that is so nice. I'm glad you have a friend like that. It's so nice to have somebody come and help us tackle the overwhelming things. It makes such a huge difference. Can't wait to see your dress! (and I like my knees!)

Sarahstottle said...

Now I'm wondering if I'm knocked kneed and never knew it. Wow, what a great friend!! Good friends are such a gift. I'm glad you got the help you needed.

I bet you look stunning in the dress. Last night Katie told me you want to her to do your hair for the wedding. I started giving her tips and pointers. It made me feel like doing a french roll on someone. I wish I could be there, and do you hair, and help in any other way that I could.

Andrea said...

haha, well, Mom is very knock kneed and Dad is a little. If when you stand with your legs straight and close together and knees locked, are your heels touching? I mean really touching? If not, then you are knock kneed. And for the record, I have nothing against my knees. I just think dresses or skirts that end just before the knee are not the most attractive.

Andrea said...

And I wish you were going to be here, too, Sarah!:(

Laura said...

friendships like that are so special. a thing to cherish for sure. i'm glad you got the exact support and friend nourishing that you needed, especially when you needed it. i have no idea what i'm going to wear, not that i'm important like mother of the bride, but it might have to be pants if i'm going to be shooting and i guess i'll have to go shopping...

Beth-a-knee said...

slacks, labi. Slacks.