There is nothing more beautiful than old friends. Yesterday a group of friends got togehter to celebrate Jill's 65th birthday. Most of us had known one another for over 30 years. It was a very grand celebration. Not only of Jill's special day but also the celebration of lasting friendships.
We had all been there for Jill when her husband died of terrible pancriatic cancer. They had all been there when two of my children were born. Most of us had shared our troubles and our triumphs with each other all through the years of bringing up our children, teenage traumas, weddings, deaths, following our careers and slowly coming into the autumn of our years. As a group we are a force to be reckoned with.
We have catered for school functions - never to be matched over the years! We have played hard and loved hard and we have overcome diversities and diversions. But all through these years we have remained the friends we can rely on.
We were a motely crew on the day each bearing a hat that spoke volumes! I had on the hat I had bought for my daughter's wedding 6 years ago. Sadly her marraige broke up and her heart was broken but yesterday the hat came out for a happy celebration. Millie wore a minute little top hat made of red felt and black tuille. It matched her red, white and blue outfit and she looked very chic. Candy had made cardboard cut out flowers on her new computer and her husband had sewn them onto her sun hat as Candy is not that domisticated. It was a riot of colour. Tony wore a children's Mr Plod the Policeman hat and Lizzie wore a jester's cap in brilliant shades of red, blue and yellow. The best hat of all, in my mind, was Jill's. She had on a classic white panama trimmed with black and white. The hat had originally belonged to her daughter, Candy, when she had belonged to the church choir many years ago. It was just the right hat to wear to a wonderful morning tea party in the garden. It was just Jill!
What a wonderful way to spend a morning. All embraced by the love and warmth of old friends!
