Day: April 4, 2017

Flo pops up everywhere on the farm, this is the first time I’ve seen her sit on the old feed barrel we use as a table outside. Flo, a savvy barn cat, always finds the warm spots. It must be warm up there.

On the surface, it would seem that these two women – Connie and Maria – have little in common. They come from different places, are at different stages of their lives. Yet they have struck up an affecting and genuine friendship, important to both of them.

Once or twice a week, Maria comes to the Mansion, often to haul some things in that the residents need. She always comes and visits Connie, she sits down across from her, and I step back and watch and listen. Sometimes Red and I will go visit another resident.

Maria lives on a farm, Connie lives in an Assisted Care Facility, the Mansion.

They talk easily, for long times. Connie smiles and nods often, they laugh at each other’s stories. Sometimes, I think, they laugh about the foibles of men. Even though they are different in many ways, there are parts of them that are similar, that connect.

Connie wouldn’t describe herself in that way, but she is an artist. Whenever I have seen her, she is creating. She makes mittens for the staff, scarves for the residents, baby caps and sweaters for newborns. Maria, a fiber artist also, respects and admires Connie’s work. Connie admires Maria’s quilts, and she loves the individualistic way she dresses.

Both are compulsive creators, each one is always making something and showing it to the other. Across the fog of time and age, there is a connection, and it is very real.

Connie always reads one or two of the letters she receives from readers of the blog, sometimes she needs Maria to explain something to her, sometimes she has trouble seeing the handwriting. She reads everyone carefully and puts it in a pile to answer.

Connie, like Maria, brushes off praise and is modest and direct. Both have a dry sense of humor. When I stand back and see the two of them talk, I see light and good energy all around them. Connie was supposed to come and visit us this week, she was going to spend some time in Maria’s studio, but there is heavy rain and widespread flooding here.

Connie always asks me about Maria when she isn’t there. The two of them always hug when they part. Yesterday, Connie said to me, “how about a hug from you?” I was very happy to give one, my first. I am not an instinctive hugger.

We’ll wait a week or so, until it is dryer and warmer, so Connie can get around the farm a bit and see Red work, and meet the donkeys. I think Connie is looking forward to coming.  She adores Red.

I know Maria is looking forward to it, an aide is coming to handle the oxygen tanks and tubes Connie needs to breath. . I love Connie, and talk to her easily, but there is a special chemistry among women, I think, that eludes most men. I love seeing this friendship deepen and grow. I think we all crave this connection.

Fate is not a dog who likes to sit and watch the world go by, like a Lab. She has to be part of everything, in the middle of everything Maria was sitting right next to me this morning, we were talking, and suddenly Fate’s head pops up over her shoulder, she wanted to join in and get some attention. She did. She is a sweet, if crazy thing.