Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

Today is my best friend's birthday and we had a zoom meeting to celebrate her. She looked beautiful, and her son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters were so loving and fun. It was nice to see her friends online as well. I texted her this morning and she said we would have to take a trip the minute we are vaccinated and can travel again. I have so many terrific memories of our trips. We have been to Santa Fe twice, Quebec City and Montreal, Morocco (Marrakesh, Fez, Rabat, Casablanca, Ifrane, Meknes), Florence and environs, and little trips to Calistoga, Vashon Island and other places. She has been like a sister to me, and beside me at all of my kids' weddings and most graduations. She's supported me through my kid's illness, my parents' deaths, my brother's suicide, and my daughter's death from breast cancer. She's been a rock. We talk for at least an hour a week on the phone, and we laugh and tease and moan and groan and complain. I don't think I could survive without her love and caring. I deeply appreciate the serendipity of meeting her in a conscious raising group 47 years ago and being on a path with her ever since. Other friends and I have parted ways, but she and I have fought to keep our friendship relevant and rich. There is nothing I don't tell her, and that means my petty, judgemental, ungenerous side and not just the bright path I struggle to follow. She knows who I am. And it's a treasure beyond imagining to have someone SEE me. I hope I do the same for her.