the ties that bind

Do we really know, right from the beginning, that our little childhood playmates would mean so much to us as we grow older? No, we just played and had great fun. Years later, now that we have experienced the bumps and bruises of life, we can look back to those blissful years of innocence and really treasure our buddies.

One such play pal from my past has come to our house for a two-week visit and arrived last Friday. The fact that we are even in communication again is a miracle story. Inger and I met when she was 6 years old. She grew up right across the street from my house. We played together almost every day. Here is a photo of Inger (right) and myself (left). We were around the age of 5 or 6 when these were taken.
Then we each went off to college and somehow we lost touch as friends sometimes do.

32 years later, through a series of amazing events and to both of our amazement's, we found each other in St. Paul de Vence, Provence, France! I was teaching watercolors and oils to artists from the United States and Britain and she had been living there for many years. We chose a quaint café to meet. Once again our friendship bloomed. Thirty-two years is a long time and we have had lots to catch up on.

And so the bond continues. Somewhere in our lives there really is a thread of continuity that weaves us all together. I am just thrilled to have her in my life again and see this thread come full circle.

This painting, Little Bugs, is a reminder of just such friendships!