“Friends”, lyrics by Bernie Taupin

I hope the day will be a lighter highway
For friends are found on every road
Can you ever think of any better way
For the lost and weary travelers to go?

Making friends for the world to see
Let the people know you got what you need
With a friend at hand you will see the light
If your friends are there then every thing’s all right

This has been an unusual Christmas season, in that I have attended a funeral, and a wedding, one friend became a gramma for the first time, and another one had a terrifying car accident affecting her and both daughters (everyone is going to be OK, but it was a serious accident).  It has made me reflect on major life events and friendship. When you have lived as long as I have, the years that you have known people really add up. Shared memory and experience is a very precious thing.  There are many people whom I do not see often, but whom I hold very dear, and what happens to them matters to me.  So, when they are joyful I celebrate, and when they are in pain, I hurt, also.  Sometimes it makes me feel better to knit something special, but the recent loss of a good friend that I have known for over 30 years laid me low, and I hardly knit a stitch this whole week. Noticing this, I acknowledged that I didn’t feel like knitting, and knew it would pass.  And, it will.

Because this has been a pensive week, and a pensive blog post, I am going to leave you with some happy photos.  First, our kitten, Jedi, enjoying the Christmas tree (she thinks she is hiding).  And, my friends Jade and Jesse Himmelsbach, newly married.  Their wedding was a truly joyous occasion, and I wish them all happiness.  When your friends are there, every thing’s all right.