A to Z Honesty - F is for Friend

Will-o'-the-wisp of woman, all smile and spark,

I think of you oft, as a sailor's heart would return to salt mist, ice spray, rolling tidal seas.

In your voice, the scream of distant gulls, of brilliant thunder, waves pounding on rocky shores. 

Laughter borne of earth and wind and family, always family, always.

Friend.

Laurita, melodic trip of the tongue, three dancing syllables sparkling from the east.

Yesterday I checked the mail and found a package from my dear friend Laurita Miller, a talented writer and fellow blogger from Newfoundland. She is an elf of a girl, a spritely spirit. To know her, even a bit, is to love her and I don't know anyone who doesn't love her to absolute bits.

Inside the envelope was this remarkable necklace that she put together herself. There was a note of explanation but I knew, as soon as I saw the words, that she had taken two quotes from one of my short stories called Still Up, and used them as the central design element of this sincerely beautiful wearable art.

I saw this and my knees buckled.

A sob welled up from my heart and, for a moment, I could scarcely breathe.

Many people have done wonderful things for me in my long, lucky life. But this. This was the best.

That Laurita had, first of all, thought enough of me to make this beautiful necklace, that was one thing.

But to remember my story, and to choose words from it that not only sum up the friendship of the two main characters but also sum up the value of all friendships – including the bond I have with Laurita – that is what reaches through the hum of daily life and touches you with magic that can only be experienced, not described.

I wore the necklace to my writer's group meeting last night (I think I will wear it every day from now on) and proudly showed it to my fellow writers. They were amazed by the trinket, I exaggerate not one bit. The idea of wearing one's own words, in such a creative way, is fantastic. They all said, "She should SELL these."

So I say to you, Laurita – perhaps Calling Shotgun is not your only calling. When you're not on your way to becoming Canada's next Alice Munro, perhaps you could string together more of these wonderful, wonderful pendants. You could use the proceeds for charity and thus would not only be helping writers wear their words close to their chests, but you would also helping the world even more than you already do.

But perhaps that is asking too much of a will-o'-the-wisp, a girl of the Atlantic, a daughter of the rock, an earth mother grounded in love.

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By the way, I would be completely remiss if I didn't mention Mr. Ninja Himself, the lovely and talented Alex J. Cavanaugh, one of the popular hosts of the A to Z Blogfest, as well as being a successful author and all-round nice guy. Today he mentioned me along with the extremely popular Talli Roland in his F is for Friendly post. I am very touched, Alex. Thank you. But as far as Friendly goes? You, my dear, are the King.