The highest honor of friendship isn't being invited to "that party" or out on a girls weekend.
Monday, February 5, 2024
To be a friend...
Friday, December 29, 2023
Sunday, February 5, 2023
This is being a friend!
The highest honor of friendship isn't being invited to "that party" or out on a girls weekend.
Sunday, June 5, 2022
Meeting my friend, Deborah
One day I was bobbing about in the pool at The Club and met this lady who was there with her daughter. As often happens, we began talking. I asked if they were new members, which they were, and found out where they lived on the property. It turned out the mom was a teacher and was going to be working at AMI-Kids in Green Cove Springs, a school I had never heard about before that day. The school is the boys' version of Pace for Girls, which I announced to my new friend and her daughter. They were well aware of Pace, the daughter having been a student of Pace years earlier in West Palm Beach, from where they moved. Cool! I was so interested to hear about the school and work Deborah would do there. How can I help?
Michaela, her daughter, was still looking for work and I asked her in what type of job was she interested. She said she can cook, do housekeeping, retail, and a few other things, mainly looking for employment nearby. The ladies were a bit frustrated that nothing had panned out so far, and I asked, "Have you applied here?", gesturing toward The Club. "Where?", they asked, and I motioned again at The Club. The looks on their faces was priceless, so near and yet so far! We just laughed and laughed, and Michaela planned to go over and apply the next time they were open. (Spoiler--she got a job in the kitchen!)
Well, Deborah and I really hit it off and became fast friends. We were almost exactly the same age, she being less than three months older than me. She had a storied past, two children, this was her second career, and was sent here by God to work at the school. I do believe she was sent, because she was a true blessing to me! Deborah had extended degrees and yet she hung out with me. We spent a good deal of time together before school started. Some other friends and I helped her to gather some items needed for the students and their classrooms. Because they were high-risk students, there were limits to what they could have as far as school supplies, but many came from indigent backgrounds, badly in need of basic supplies such as socks, belts, underwear, snacks, etc. Much like the clothing give-aways done for Pace, AMI-Kids had not quite caught on that way yet. I knew many people on their Board so I could see the boys were in good hands, and were in Deborah's hands.
Deborah also liked to cook. Once my doorbell rang and there she stood with a plate of homemade pasta sauce (she was Italian!) on spaghetti. Oh, my, was it delicious! I never minded having food brought to my door, especially if she made it! And, she often mentioned that French fries were her kryptonite, and no one better get in between Deborah and fries!
When people came out to the pool and saw us together, more than one person asked if we were sisters. That was so complimentary to us both! Once, we each ordered similar, not quite matching, swimsuits from Amazon, without even conferring with each other. Deborah and I would spend hours talking with each other, eventually in a restaurant after pool season ended. We loved Tom & Betty's which was close to home for us both, and also Saigon Wok, which was on her drive home from school. We would close the place up on occasion! One particular conversation involved a potential change in her job, which would be less money but more up her alley to help the boys. Because she wanted the new role at the school, she needed to downsize her living situation, so, sadly, Deborah moved from The Club property. That did cramp our fun, but we made sure to keep up with each other, just not quite so easily.
Deborah was deeply involved in her church. Here is a funny story from our very early on relationship: Deborah, being new to the area, asked me if I knew of a church she could go to. From our conversations up to this point, I knew a Lutheran church was not what she was looking for. I told her that I had gotten a flyer in the mail from a new "happy clappy church" but did not keep it. She said that was what she was looking for!! I had to laugh about that, and fished the flyer from the trash. Deborah became integral in their women's ministry and even conducted Bible studies in the area jails for the ladies. I donated many suitable books for adding to the jails' libraries for their use, for which Deborah had asked. So glad to be able to help her in this way, even though it took our time when she was leading Bible study somewhere. That all got frozen when Covid hit. Later, that is what took my friend...I have more, for another time!
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Turning the page on the blog
I just love people! In 2005 I bought a condo in The Palace and began the process of fixing it up to suit our needs. Justin was still in high school, this move shortening our commute dramatically. After having wallpaper removed and walls repainted, some of the floors having laminate installed, we moved in in January 2006. We had to wait for our kitchen cabinets to be installed but otherwise friends helped us get settled in. It was then that I began meeting my neighbors in this 26 unit building on the St. Johns River. Justin and I also joined The Club Continental, a private club on the property where our building was located. There, too, we met many wonderful folks whom I never wish to forget. This blog will help me remember for a long time, I hope.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Airplane Stories
The other day I was digging through the papers which were removed from my desk in order to set up the new monitors and computers. There I found a card for a business at the Beaches from a man named Diondree. His business involved art and design, interiors, and more. My conversation with him took place in the waiting area at the airport in Atlanta after he overheard me talking to Justin about my flight to JAX being delayed. It was my birthday, and Justin was going to pick me up and we were going out to eat to celebrate. Except, now we will not because of the flight delay. After I hung up with Justin, this very nice fellow came over and gave me his card, asking where I lived. I told him I lived in Orange Park and was returning from visiting family in WI for the holidays. I had hoped to be home in time to celebrate my birthday with my son. He said he heard me talking on the phone and felt badly that I would miss my special meal with my son. He handed me his card, saying after the New Year, I should come to his shop at the Beaches and he would give me a piece of artwork from his collection, to make up for missing my birthday dinner. How nice is that??!! Who else has had this happen to them while sitting the seats at the airport? It was so cool for me, and I hope he felt good about reaching out to me on my birthday.
I never did take advantage of his offer (I wonder if it is still good?) but what a lovely gesture from him to me, two strangers in the airport, and his sympathy for my situation. Awesome, just awesome! As memory serves, Justin picked me up before midnight that night, and he had a burger on hand for me to eat in the car, my special birthday burger!
Me with my watercolor painting displayed at Thrasher-Horne Center which later became a graduation gift to my niece, Alayna. The painting used only two colors-cerulean and alizeron crimson. A fun project, and I got juried into the show!Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Love the Impromptu
Earlier today I let Linda know that I was going to be absent from our appointment to watch "The Five" tonight because of being invited to an art show opening at Santioni's Restaurant. I hate to leave Linda, cherish the time, but I had not spent time with my dear friend, Dee, the artist being shown, since last year! Just before the lockdown, Dee and Julia, former proprietors of Great Hang Ups Gallery, had met me for brunch at Just a Pinch on Fleming Island. It was going to be wonderful to see Dee and view her art show, with Jan Koss.
Some of Dee's artwork on display at Santioni's
Friend, Mo, was not available to have lunch because of a dental appointment but she was free for dinner. I explained about the art show and suggested we have dinner while there. VERY early for me to eat, I reserved fur us at 5:15, knowing that we would see the show and talk with enough people in an hour's time in the Amalfi Room at the restaurant. They were serving free pizza and wine but I brought my own soda, and Mo had some wine. It was just awesome to see my old friends from the Orange Park Art Guild, many of whom urged me to come back, even though I told them I was done with painting.
One of the ladies I had mentored when I was involved in AGOP was there, and showed us some of her work which is permanently on display in the Amalfi Room. She did not really need a mentor! When the frame store closed, Julia went on to teach art, and many of my supplies went with her for use in the classroom. My time of painting had run its course and I was glad to share my supplies with those who could really use them. Sadly, Julia was not there last night, would have loved to see her again.
Mo and I were seated in the main dining room at a cosy little table. She once more insisted on paying for my meal because of the assistance I am lending to Roland with his re-election efforts. Then, we got free dessert because Mo had asked for no cheese on her meal and it came with cheese anyway. The waitress felt badly even though the cheese peeled right off (who does not want cheese??). Mo had Key Lime Pie and I had a small styro cup of chocolate ice cream. We so enjoyed the time together, talking for hours, as is our practice!
It was such a nice event and wonderful meal, Mo even knew a couple of people there, and met many more. At one point she told our hostess, Jan, that this was the first art reception that she had ever attended, and Jan told her to stick with "this girl" for many more firsts. Oh my! I must really step up my game. Most assuredly I have lost a step in my older age here. As we drove home, Mo at the wheel, she said, "Don't you just love the impromptu things?" Yes, yes, I do!!! God bless you, Mo!!!