Friday, April 6, 2012

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.

***

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.

70 comments:

  1. This is a really amazing gift. Found you from Alex's blog. New follower :)

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  2. A beautiful gift from a beautiful friend.

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  3. I would cry the second I saw that. What a dear friend.

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    1. She is, Ciara. Internet friends are the best friends ever...

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  4. That was a wonderful thing for her to do!

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    1. And that was TWO wonderful things for me today! Thanks for the shout-out, King!

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  5. I'm used to your dry sense of humor...but this post was really beautiful, especially the poem! And what an awesome idea for a gift. Tearing up...

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    1. Oh, don't cry, Jan! At least your wee small tiny poochie is there to kiss you better....

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  6. What a lovely keepsake both of your own words and of your friendship.

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    1. Isn't it adorable, Delores? Just makes me happy THINKING about it.

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  7. Wonderful talisman! Also, the words you used were pure and beautiful poetry! The two of you share a special bond~ lucky girls:)

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    1. Not so lucky as you two, living on the East Coast. Such beautiful, wonderful, warm country. Sigh...

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  8. Lovely gift, lovely blog post! Alex directed me here. Glad he did.

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    1. Thanks Liza! I do think Alex was a traffic cop in a former life...

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  9. How beautiful and what a gorgeous sentiment! Laurita is such a lovely person...as are you, Cathy.

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    1. At the risk of sounding like a mutual admiration society with WAY too much estrogen, I will venture that you are too, Mizz Eno. I sure hope you're feeling better.

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    2. Nah, not me. Didn't Jezebel fill you in about my nefarious personality?
      As for feeling better...not yet. *hacks up a lung*

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  10. What a wonderful, thoughtful gift.

    And an excellent idea - wearing our own words.

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    1. Isn't it great? I really think so, too. It's so personal! So meaningful.

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  11. Oh my God, Cathy. That's really beautiful. I didn't expect to come here today to bawl my eyes out. Sounds more like a fog horn here now. :)

    You are really something. Thank you so much. Is it any wonder you inspire?

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    1. *passes you a Kleenex*

      Wot, and you didn't have ME bawling????? Turnabout is fair place, missy! Thanks again, by the way. Wore it again all day, except when we were splitting wood, because I didn't want to wreck it.

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  12. New follower from Alex's blog and that necklace would have brought me to tears too! So beautiful and touching!

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  13. What a fabulous gift! It really touched me. And your writer friends are right, you friend should sell them. You have great friends.

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    1. See, Laurita? Told ya!
      You could sell a pile of them at the novel marathon. A. Pile!

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  14. Oh that is so sweet! Both the gift and the post :) What a wonderful friendship!

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    1. Like Laurita said, you have a FANTASTIC blog name! How can you not love that????
      Thanks so much for dropping by!

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  15. wow, what a sweet gift...amen to friendships!

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  16. This post warms my heart.

    Thanks to the king, I came to visit. Thanks to your warm writing, I'm jumping aboard.

    Happy weekend.

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    1. Aw, what a great comment, Robyn! Or should I call you Rawkn? Whatever! You have a lovely smile and it's equally lovely to say hello!

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  17. lovely post!

    I've just found your from Alex's blog and so happy I did! I'm from Minden! Love that you are doing the Muskoka writing challenge. I used to be a literacy tutor for a few years. I'd love to go, but my job is too busy in the summers. Good luck!

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    1. MINDEN! No WAY! (For those who have never heard of Minden, let's just say this - Bracebridge is like a CITY next to this sweet, charmer of a town on the banks of the Gull River.) I spent every summer of my teenage years at our cottage on Twelve Mile Lake, just up the road from Minden. I love the Highlands. You are so incredibly lucky to live there. Go have a Kawartha Dairy ice cream for me, will ya? And wave at the cow as you go by? (Love the cow.)
      It's too bad you can't go the the marathon - it would have been great to rub some elbows with another local blogger! Great to meet you!

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    2. another time, we're bound to meet, Cathy! You should look into the Niagra writers conference. It's so fun. (SCBWI)
      Twelve Mile Lake is pretty place for a cottage. Nice!

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    3. At first glance I thought you had written "the Viagra writers conference."
      I thought, wow, you're so liberated!

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  18. I looked at the pendant before I read about it and knew it was wonderful. A friend above friends.

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  19. What a wonderful friend. Found you through Alex's post. Nice to "meet" you.

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    1. Thank you Jessica, nice to "meet" you too! Isn't Alex the nicest ninja?

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  20. That is so touching. In these days of hurry, hurry, hurry, it is rare to find people ready to take such time and care.

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    1. Absolutely true. Which is yet another reason why it was so wonderful.

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  21. What a thoughtful and beautiful gift!

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    1. I think you'd look awesome with a necklace like that, Daisy... or maybe a new collar with quotes in it from one of your favourite posts.

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  22. That's really sweet of her! The necklace looks great too.


    Jamie
    Fellow A-Z bloggy buddy
    Mithril Wisdom

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    1. If she were any sweeter, Jamie, she'd be saltwater taffy.

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  23. Hello Cathy,

    Great post, I think I just found my new favorite blog. Love the way you write! And "friend" is the perfect choice to represent the letter "F".

    I discovered your site through the A to Z Challenge and am now a follower, but not in a stalker-ish way with binoculars and night vision goggles or anything like that ….

    Feel free to take a peek at my blog too if you have time. I write humor, and people tell me I’m funny (maybe it’s just the voices in my head, that’s what the doctor told me this last time when he upped my meds again).

    http://mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com
    best,
    MOV

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    1. Why you say the nicest things, Mizz MOV. Of course I was over to check out your digs - love what you've done with the place - plenty of funny and lots of happy and original art. So glad to meet you, too! I'm loving this A to Z thingie.

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  24. Wonderful post, written by one amazing writer/friend/woman/etc about another amazing writer/friend/woman/etc. Made me grin, big time. Laurita, she could give up the day job and make these lovely necklaces. Gorgeous. Peace...

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    1. Hi Linda!!!! How ARE you today? (Speaking of amazing writer/friend/woman, there she IS!
      Hope you're having a restful and fabulous Easter weekend. Must be one of the busiest times of the year at your house!

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  25. Hello gorgeous Cathy. No wonder friends are throwing trinkets at your feet! I read Alex's bit about you and that was heartwarming. You are a much loved member of the 'verse. And Laurita. I've never heard of such a thoughtful writerly gift, one to treasure forevermore. I'd never take it off either!

    Denise

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    1. I am really feeling the love lately, Denise. Thanks to you. Thanks to Alex and Laurita and a host of wonderful "others" who share this passion for blogging and writing and making friends.

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  26. And if they were your words at the beginning - what a poet! D.

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  27. That's a wonderful post! You're lucky to have such a great friend!
    New follower here! :)

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  28. What a fantastic idea. I have always love the idea of wearing your words, your thoughts, your mantras, if you will.

    I have the word faith tattooed on my ankle. Not because I am religious, but because I am grounded by it, and it drives me to keep going. I designed it myself, and it is an amb1gram. So no matter how I look at it, I am reminded to keep having faith.

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    1. I always wanted to put Sam-I-Am on my ankle. Perhaps faith is a wee bit more inspiring...

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  29. You epitomise Friendship. I am so glad that you and Laurita bonded and that she was able to give you this perfect gift.

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  30. What a beautiful gift!
    Happy A to Z! :)

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  31. Loved this post, truly I did and I loved the necklace.

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  32. Found your blog via the A-to-Z Challenge and have enjoyed reading your posts. Really! :)

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