Blessed

There is a song we used to sing in girl scouts..."make new friends, but keep the old...one is silver and the other gold."

I have had a golden afternoon.  And, it was, of all places, at a baby shower.  Now, I'm not a lover of showers of any kind.  Well, that's not true.  I love a good rain shower.  I love a good hot shower. I don't particularly love Sunday afternoon gift-giving showers.  But, every now and then, along comes a shower that I would not miss.  One came along today.

So many special friends were there.  Those old, golden ones that cannot be replaced.  The shower was for the daughter of a friend.  I have known this expectant mom most of her life.  I have watched her grow into a creative, beautiful, funny, brilliant, generous, kind, gracious, and loving daughter, wife, sister, aunt, and friend.   I feel certain she will display those same traits to her baby boy when he arrives.  He is one lucky little guy to be blessed by this family.

There were others there.  Two of the hostesses are my peers whose daughters also hosted.  I realize, I consider those younger girls my friends too.  No, not just my friends, but my sisters.  It is fun to see characteristics of their mothers in them.  It is like turning back time.

This shower was a true Southern ladies' delight.  Not a piece of plastic in sight.  China dishes, linen napkins, silver and fresh flowers all present because the hostesses were pleased and honored to provide for their guests.  The home is lovely; a new home that looks old.  Much of it had been built with salvaged materials from other homes. Every detail was displayed with great care. It was warm and welcoming, just like the lovely woman who lives there.

The food...oh, the food.  I ate too much, but who can pass up homemade pound cake with a perfect crunchy top, and mushroom tarts, and lemon squares and fruit and brie and delicious tiny crackers?  Not me.  The punch was even delicious. I felt loved just by being there.  I know the other guests did as well.

Oh, those other guests.  I love those women.  My walking buddies who I do not see nearly enough when summer has passed.  Young mothers who brought their little girls to the ladies' party.  Those precious little ones in their Sunday dresses will be grown before we turn around.  I admire the grandmother-to-be more than I can say.  She has a heart of tenderness and compassion.  Those are hallmarks of the entire family.

I rode home with another friend who, in a former life, I talked to almost every day.  We do not spend time together as we once did, but those spaces drop away when we do get the opportunity to visit.  Sadly, in that short drive we learned that we have a doctor in common.  When did life change from obstetricians to cardiologists?  I do not know.  But, it is fine because we all have each other.  We have history together.   We are walking through our "what now" years together.

I have had a golden afternoon of blessing.  I love my new friends.  They are like precious silver.  But, those old friendships gleam like burnished gold.

So, for today, I wish you shiny new friendships and old friendship that have beautifully aged patinas and I wish you

blessings