A Silver Friend Who’s Golden

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1-2 (NIV)

This morning did not start out well. I planned just how the time needed to be spent, and it did not include fixing breakfast for youngest son and his girlfriend. But, when they showed up unexpectedly, I took a deep breath and remembered that I only have this moment and so welcomed them in and set aside my to do list. While I was fixing chocolate pancakes, YSGF said to me, “You are such a nice mom. My mom would say, ‘You’re a big girl. Fix them yourself.” I laughed and confessed, “I’m just showing off for you.”

She smiled, then, got very serious. She leaned back against the kitchen counter, crossed her arms and said, “We need to talk.” Uh, oh. When a sixteen year old girl says, “We need to talk,” in that tone something must be wrong. I could only imagine what. But, her words caught me off guard. “Are you sure it is safe for you to invite a stranger that you met on the internet over for lunch?”

I just about bust a gut I was so surprised and tickled by her concern. I assured her that it was no stranger coming for lunch, that although I had only met her once in person, I read her blog regularly and was quite sure Vicki was not going to knock me over the head and steal the silverware. YSGF was not convinced and offered to stick around to monitor the situation, but I told her I was quite sure I would be okay.

They ate their pancakes and headed off for the beach leaving me with a sinkful of dishes and less than an hour to prepare for my company/blog friend’s arrival. Despite my reassurances to YSGF, I was quite anxious about Vicki’s arrival. What would we talk about? Would she like my house? Was the food going to be okay?

Then, Vicki arrived and all fears were laid to rest as we chatted like old friends and I introduced her to the horses and dogs. My horse fell in love with her and followed her around like a puppy. I forgot to ask if perhaps her perfume smelled like peppermints.

I shared my glass craft with her, and she made a marvelous piece which later this week I will fire for her. She is one clever woman. We talked children, careers, husbands, crafts and Florida.

She volunteers at the Nature Center I used to frequent as a child. There, I transitioned from a Brownie to a Girl Scout crossing a little bridge symbolizing our progression. In Girl Scouts, we sang a song, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.”

One of the things Vicki and I talked about is how important it is to live in the moment and to relish every aspect of our lives, both good and not so good. And so, for however much time I am given, I am delighted to call Vicki my silver haired friend of gold.

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