So, today is the 23rd of January and I am writing my first post. This month has been, well, difficult at times. There have been a few days that I really felt useless and had no purpose, fortunately, things are better now. I did take a lot of pictures for the 365 project. I have thought about it, generally late at night, right when I am about to go to bed.
What am I grateful for today? Hmmm, that is the question of the day isn't it?
I am grateful that friends are the family you choose. Most of my extended family live in another country. Some live one hour away, while the rest live at least 1 1/2 and up away. None of my siblings live near me either. This does make the question: who is your next of kin, interesting. I have several really good friends that I have known for years and in some cases, most of my life. Today's gratitude is for my very very bestest friend ever!!! Katherine J. Heyart. Let me tell you a bit about her. We have been friends for 54 years now.
Both Kathy and I have absolutely no memory of meeting. None, zip, nada. As far as her parents and my mom can positively remember, we were in the 3 year olds Sunday School Room at our Church. We possibly could have been in the nursery room at church together, no one knows for sure. The 3 year old room, that is a definite memory for all parents. In addition to the Sunday School, we also were in the same Nursery School, Preschool, elementary School, Junior High School, and High School. In a lot of ways, it was and is a perfect friendship. Kathy was extremely shy as a child. I was undiagnosed ADHD and chattered all the time. I found a friend who would listen and she found a friend who would talk to her. Yup. It was perfect.
In 2021, we had one of my former students who is a photographer, take our pictures for 50 years of Friendship. We had so much fun!
Kathy is married and has 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. We live a few hours away from each other, a point I have complained about since before she got married please note: I am not the one who moved. Kathy is. However, thanks to texting and Facebook and all that stuff it is so much easier to stay in touch although Kathy and I had always exchanged letters when we were apart. She is an awesome letter writer. I can write good letters, it is the mailing part I fail at. In college I would write in class notes in her letters a lot. It depended on how big the classroom was if I could actually hear the lecture or not. You see, I am partially deaf. At the time I was working on my Bachelor's Degree, I had about 50% hearing loss in both ears which certainly interesting to have when you are a music major. I don't think it actually made a difference for me in .my music performances. Whenever I had a classroom that was in a big lecture hall I couldn't hear anything with the low murmur of the students. I would record the lecture while copying the notes on the chalkboard. Then, my mom would put them together in notes so I could study. We went to separate Universities. It was the first time in our lives we went to schools. ,It was rather scary for me. I have terrible anxiety and have had as long as I can remember.
After Kathy graduated from University, she moved back to this side of the state. I was very happy about both events. One of my favorite memories from that time is when we, along with our friends Julie and Donna, would get together, usually at my house as I would be racing home from dance to make it in time, to watch 90210 and Melrose Place. We would yell at the TV when we didn't like how one of the characters were behaving in a way we didn't like. Once both shows became more like soap operas instead of individual episodes, I did not like them as much. As time went on, I had less time to actually watch the shows so I really only saw the first few years.
One of Kathy and I'd high school friends invited the both of us to a singles Bible Study. We went and I was really surprised at how much I liked the way the study was approached. Kathy and I also liked the playing the card game, Hearts, after the studying was finished. The people in the group were really nice and we both are friends with some of the members today. It was through one of the members that Kathy met her husband. Her wedding was one of the best days of my life. I was bouncing off walls that is how excited I was!!! Then she and her husband moved to the other side of the state. Sometimes I do think that we communicate more because we live far apart. This ways does encourage me to really keep up with how she is doing and how her family is doing. Kathy is one, if not the one best person I have ever known. Yes, we have had fights and arguments and all of that in our younger days, that does not change anything. She is one of the kindest, understanding, generous, and compassionate person I have ever met. She is brilliant and talented and beautiful and yes, I could go on, but I won't. I am including some pictures here!!
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