"JUST" FRIENDS???

The Rogue Speaks:

Remember those nice photos of my house in Tucson?  The ones that showed such neat and tidy rooms?  It was great while it lasted, but there are only two rooms that have been left unscathed in the packing frenzy.  The REAL packers are coming next Thursday, but in the meantime, I am doing a little "cleaning and sorting."  Rod pulled all the boxes out of the attic so I could sort out all the Christmas decorations, especially the ones that have not seen the light of day since I called a moratorium on decking the halls several years ago.  Someone is going to have a field day with some of this stuff.  Rod asked what I wanted to do with all the gifts that were in the attic.  Do you have presents stashed away in your attic?  No, I didn't think so.  There is something a little unfinished about a decorated tree with no presents underneath, so 14 years ago, I wrapped up empty gift boxes in paper and ribbon, for that finished look. The same presents for 14 years!  Time to say good bye.

I put the Christmas stuff to be sold in boxes and placed them beside the other STACK of boxes that I have filled up with dishes, stemware, glassware, cooking utensils, books, various art objects, prints, etc., and a couple of furniture items. There are LOTS more boxes in the garage!!!

Now for the meat of this post:

"Who was on the phone?" your husband asks you.  "Oh, just a friend," you reply.  I've had lots of "just friends" over the years, and I'm sure you have, too.  Today I want to tell you about a very dear friend, who is way more than "just a friend."  We haven't been friends for years and years, but you know how sometimes when you meet someone for the first time, something sort of clicks?   We clicked.  So when I was completely overwhelmed with trying to have a garage sale before we move, I called her.  I called her because I was just about to cry in wearyness.  I knew she'd understand., because she is just that kind of woman--understanding, loving, and non-judgemental.  I wanted to hear someone say, "There, there! Everything will turn out! You just need to rest for a while."

We planned to get together, husbands included, and have dinner  or lunch before Rod and I moved away.  She and her husband are coming here on Sunday.  They are bringing a truck.  The four of us are loading up that truck with all the garage sale items, packed up in boxes, and my friend--my sweet, cosmic sister friend--is taking all that stuff to her storage unit, and when the dust settles (literally!) she is going to hold a garage sale FOR ME!!!  Friends like she is only come along once in a lifetime.  I just wanted someone who loves me to give me a little sympathy, and a little encouragement.  My sweet friend went far and above the call of duty.  I love her.

Thank you, Miss Jenny.  I am truly blessed to have a friend like you.

"And in the sweetness of friendship let

 there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

 For in the dew of little things the heart

finds its morning and is refreshed."

Kahlil Gibran