Friends

Over the course of the past half-century, I've learned a few important things about life.  One of them is the value of friendship.  Having good friends is an essential component of happiness.  Humans are social-animals and feeling that we're part of a community grounds us.

Friends make us happy.  They understand and support our individuality.  Their presence in our lives give us a vital feeling of connection.  A wise man once said "A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg even though he knows you are slightly cracked."

By now, you're probably wondering why I'm pining about friendship.  It's because I'm basking in a glow of euphoria.  A friend -- someone who reads my blog and likes me -- had a thoughtful idea and went to the extreme trouble of spending hours to make me a present.  My friend has fierce sewing-talent and being the recipient of her effort humbles me.

My friend's name is Aimee and she has a crafting blog.  She uses the humorous nom de plume "graverobbergirl".  Aimee is super-bright with a degree in archaeology.  She lives in a cold part of upstate New York and has an attitude toward society that I admire.  Aimee is wildly skilled at sewing and her creations are very stylish.  She can make clothes, costumes and cool things like backpacks.

Without telling me, Aimee designed and made a project that suits me perfectly.  You can tell she's a real friend of mine 'cause she "gets" me.  She understands me in a way most people in my life don't.  I cherish that.  Friends like Aimee are rare.

What Aimee made me is an apron!  A frilly apron in my favorite colors and pattern.  Something I can wear while puttering around my kitchen, trying to figure out what to put in the dish cooking on the stove.  Something that makes me feel... natural.

If you know me, you'll instantly sense how perfect this apron is.  And how much I appreciate it.  Thank you, Aimee!

And go visit her blog.  You can never have too many friends.  :-)