Among the most comforting of friends. . .

How deep is your love
We learned yesterday that my grandmother will leave us at "any time" now. I don't know what "any time" means, so I won't even conjecture. I ask only that you pray that she is comfortable and peaceful. Pray that we are filled with beautiful memories of this incredible lady and able to forget these last days, instead relishing in her beauty, her warmth, her love and her memory.

Home is where the "heart" is
I understand that Needlefingers and Mother Needlefingers are home safe and sound. I am glad that the surgery went well and that the patient is on her way to recovery. I am sorry that things were so tough with the hospital staff and with her care. However, I know she's got the two best nurses now and she is in good hands.

Blessings and yarn
Sometimes, when you least expect it, you get an incredible blessing poured upon you, one that you can't escape, one that you relish for the rest of your life.

Yesterday wasn't the most pleasant of days. I really wanted to just go home, cover up and sleep. However, I had made plans to meet a friend for coffee and yarn purchasing. You see, I have managed to talk her into taking a knitting class with me, all part of my scheme to nurture a knitting buddy locally. She graciously agreed to join me, but needed supplies, hence our big plans.

I drug myself to the bookstore (our designated meeting spot) and hoped that this would be over quickly so I could just go home and end this horrible day. She was running a little late, so I perused the bookstore (as if I need yet another book) and when she finally arrived, we headed to the hobby store. Overwhelmed with selection, we both just wandered the aisles touching each and every yarn we saw, giggling at some of the names of the colors and making big plans for our scarf class.

I have been friends with Knitting B for over 10 years now, but it seems that we have gotten closer in the last two years. It's been a delayed blessing, a gift in disguise watching this friendship grow.

In our meandering, I learned that her grandfather had passed on Monday and she was preparing to be part of his service. I don't think she intended on sharing that, afraid she'd get upset in public, but I was glad she did and I think she was too.

We made our way to the bookstore for coffee and what we thought would be a short chat; which in reality turned into an over four-hour conversation. I didn't want it to end. We chatted, we listened, we got teared up, we giggled. It was probably one of the most honest, open and mutually-gratifying conversations I have ever experienced. No holds barred. Not topic too personal or embarrassing. No concern over making good impressions or proper phrasing.

It was comfortable, it was safe, it was secure and it was loving. It was a blessing that I think we both needed to give and to receive, not just because we had lost or were losing grandparents, it went much further than that. It was two women supporting one another, listening to one another, advising one another, venting to each other, sharing their time, their insight, their wisdom and their shoulder. It was the truest of blessings: friendship.