A group of my close friends and I saw the Christmas lights tonight in Highland Park via horse-drawn carriage. Celebrating a milestone birthday (it was yesterday) with me were (top photo from left) my sister, Mary; Mary DeMuth; Kelley Mathews; Eva Bleeker; and Reiko Kirstein.
My little sister, Mary, I've known since birth (hers). She makes me laugh, picks me up from the airport, feeds me when my fridge is empty, and dons jammies to catch a Jane Austen or Anne of Avonlea flick with me. When we were kids, we shared a room and she has the fingernail scars to prove it. Fortunately she forgave me. (I ducked flying shoes--no scars.) As adults, we love each other dearly, much to the relief of our parents.
Mary DeMuth is generous with her fantastic cooking and as a fellow writer sends me words that bless on a regular basis. We shared communion once with tortillas and orange juice. And we also had some good times as roommates at conferences in California and Colorado. She used to live in France and her family hosted us for a wonderful time there, as well.
Kelley and I met in a spiritual formation group at seminary. She is also a fellow writer, and even though she's the mother of three little ones (two of whom are my godsons), she manages to make herself available whenever I want to get together. Once we were at a conference in Colorado and I conducted an important interview. When we got back to the hotel, we realized the tape recorder hadn't worked, so she calmly helped me as I scrambled to reconstruct what we'd just heard. A year or two ago we went to the zoo and had a flat tire with a car full of kids. Steady, unflappable Kelley had that tire half changed before road service even arrived. My favorite "Kelley" memory for 2008 was a lovely dinner out with her and her husband in downtown McKinney, Texas.
Eva started out as a writing student who became my teaching assistant who became my friend. She's the one I call when I want to catch an exhibit somewhere. Often we hang out at the Java Ranch (a local coffee shop we've nicknamed the "Cowboy Cafe") and talk theology. The girl is smart and so fun to talk to and is always reading something I've never heard of. She likes NPR and green stuff and is passionate about social justice. I always come away feeling fed...and loved.
I met Reiko, my sweet, soft-spoken, generous, giving neighbor when she and her family flew from Hawaii to Dallas to check out the seminary. They stayed with us that weekend, and we've been friends ever since. She was there when we rang in the new millennium. Our daughters are in the same grade and have grown up together. If I need someone to keep my girl after school, Reiko's there. When I was recovering from surgery, she would show up with yummy food. She prays for me and always has a word of encouragement.
What a joy to have these friends all in the same place tonight. My retirement account may have taken a hard beating this year, but in the friendships of these awesome women lie some of my truest, most enduring riches.
