A Friend

02.11.09

I met her in the autumn of 2004.

I misheard her name in my nervousness and for the first hour kept referring to her wrongly.

But from that Thursday, we became friends.

At first just a weekly meeting whilst at college,

but then we met for children's birthday parties and weekend get togethers, then she moved into our village.

Although we are so different, we are so alike.

We can both say things like - Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' and know what we are talking about.

We can both lose ourselves in a plant nursery and love it.

We can both plan next season's colour or vegetables this season and have them sown and ready in our greenhouses

We both love the allure of yarn and beads and threads and material

We have been on holiday together

We look after each other's fur-babies when the other is away

I have dragged her hill and dale, through thick and thin, through mud and water

She drags me shopping................

I get her to join in our madcap themed parties where she has to make costumes and get dressed up,

she has taught me that matching china looks good, colour co-ordinated cushions actually do make the room and that our friendship is strong............

She looks fantastic in pink - I don't

She wears jeans and looks slim - I don't

She wears heels - I fall out of them......

She has long elegant nails - I have gardener's hands

She will leave a hole in my heart and in my life when she leaves - but I understand and agree why she is returning to her beloved island.

Happy birthday my dear dear friend - I love you.