Today’s picture is of my friend Jil. She works in the same office as I do. She is
the one I bought my first “real” camera from, and who inspired me to start
scrapbooking, and quilt making, and card making and ……the list goes on as life
does. Our one constant thread that connects
us has been cross stitch. We always have
to show each other our latest investment to our stash. And often, because Jil is a starter and seldom
a finisher when it comes to cross stitch, I get her rejects! I tease her that she needs my approval before
making any cross stitch purchases because it may end up being mine in the near
future.
Jil loves to quilt. I
tried. I really did. I started with a quilt of the month. I worked on January’s block using my sewing
machine. I ripped out all the stitching
on January’s block and tried again doing it by hand. I ripped it out again. I went
back to the store and got more materials for January’s block and tried a third
time. That’s as far as I got on the
quilt. Donna, a mutual friend of ours, took
pity and offered to put it together for me.
I couldn’t believe she would want to do that – but our friend Donna also
loves quilting, has a passion for it. I
think she was more appalled that I would quit without even finishing the first
month, but my motto is “If at first you don’t succeed, don’t take up bungee
jumping.” And I’m adding quilting to
that statement! Because the third time is
not a charm, it’s just pure frustration.
Jil and I have known each other many years. I remember her sons when they were in grade
school/middle school. I stayed with the
boys when Jil and her husband were out of town for the weekend. My fondest memory (and SO Jil) is when her
youngest asked if I would make them homemade chocolate chips cookies. I said, “Well sure! Where is the flour, chips and Crisco?” He looked at me strangely and informed me
homemade chocolate chip cookies came in a tube from the refrigerated case at
the store. Not to disappoint him, we
went to the grocery store and got the cookies in a tube, went home and made
them. They probably turned out much better
than if I had attempted making them from scratch! Jil
has something there…..
As with long-time friends, we have seen each other through
many good times and many bad times. She
can make me laugh (and isn’t that what friends are for?), and I have cried for her
when her heart was broken. She has seen her family through sicknesses and
accidents, weddings, births and hauling her deceased grandmother in the back of
a station wagon (that’s another story all its own). She’s a storyteller, and she doesn’t even have
to make up anything!!! She is one friend
I know I can talk to that will give a listening ear. Our solution to most of life’s problems end
with chocolate, another love we share.
And I can always, ALWAYS, depend on Jil to have tasted all the desserts
at any restaurant within a 60 mile radius, tried out the latest Quick Trip or
new grocery store that opened in town, and will know what flavor Sheridan’s Custard
is promoting this month. If you talk
football, it had better be the Arkansas Razorbacks or Kansas City Chiefs, and
her grandchildren are the loves of her life.
She thinks her husband is pretty special, too. And her kids…..well, she just loves her whole
family!! She is one friend I have that God
has blessed me with, over and over again.
