Ethel

This photo was posted without permission*

We went to Ethel's house.  I've known her for a very, very long time.  In fact, I must share a little story about the first time I met her.  Her parents called to come to my grandmother's one time when Ethel would have been about 7 and I was maybe 8.  They came over for a visit on a Sunday afternoon and then pulled out their hymn books and started to sing lovely hymns to her. Ethel was sitting there quietly and I was staring at her.  Her kind parents brought joy and a cup of kindness to my Grandma back in the early/mid-70's.  Then some years later I'm living in Minneapolis with Ethel's bestest friend.  Ethel is a free-flowing kind of girl.  I'm a non-free-flowing girl.  I almost don't like her. She's earthy.  Dresses in looser clothes.  Late.  Spontaneous.  Basically everything I'm not.  I was polite, but not overly nice.  I couldn't even call her a friend at that point.  We both marry within a few years of each other.  Start families.  And connect.  And communicate.  And visit each other's homes.  And become friends.  Fast forward to this past weekend.  My nephew is in their area.  I inquire about coming.  Not only is the door open and the welcome mat dusted off... it is wide open and the welcome mat is nearly flying in the breeze.  We visit.  Reminisce.  Share Tazo Awake tea (that she specially bought for me I think).  Watch our children romp and play.  Share deep hearty laughs.  A few tears.  Talk about life and death and children and spouses and fears and joys.  It was just so nice in every way.  And so... this tribute is for a friend.  Someone I knew for so many years, but only in the last 10 allowed myself to really 'like' her.  And I'm so thankful I did.  Thank you Ethel for your hospitality!  I'm thankful for your friendship...