The Journey Inward

I met an old friend
at a favorite little cafe of mine
in Lambertville,
halfway between our two homes.

We hadn't seen each other
since last fall,
but we jumped right in,
catching up on work, kids,
family, and the stuff of life.

I am so grateful
for this friendship,
founded in 1991,
teaching at the same school.

We've each given birth to 3 kids,
who had regular playdates together.
We've moved houses several times,
from starter homes to bigger homes,
to my current downsized home.
We've buried loved ones,
had troubled relationships,
changed jobs and grade levels,
had ups and downs,
and everything in between.

Through it all,
she is a bright spot,
a dependable constant,
a beautiful soul with a warm smile,
and I am so grateful for this enduring friendship.

I'm blessed with friendships,
to be sure,
but I also work hard at them,
cultivating, nurturing and tending to them.
I give them the currency of attention,
responsiveness, and follow through.
I work hard at being a good friend,
and I am richly rewarded with closeness.

Intimacy has not always been easy for me,
as I did not have much in the way of childhood models,
but I have found safety, security, and freedom to be me
in my circle of friends.
There's nothing sweeter.
    

Photos:  Lambertville, NJ.  7.28.25 by LA