Finding Peace Amid the Chaos

   In this crazy, mixed up old world, sometimes it takes a lot of patience just to get through the day.  My few encounters with people make me more appreciative of the solitude that I can find on the Bayou.   Down here, there is no drama.  I can slip away from everyone who pretends they care but only when it suits them.  I can avoid those who are only "friends" when it benefits them.  I can even steer clear of extended family members who are all for "taking" and never "giving".  The Bayou allows me peace from a discombobulated society.  

  This morning as I was meandering about the hillside, the sun was high in the sky.   I had spent the morning indoors taking care of neglected chores.  My stroll took me through the mounds of hurricane debris and neat stacks of salvaged lumber.  It wound around the hillside to the back of the Little Bayou House and to Pebble Creek.  As I crossed the tiny footbridge, I was greeted by the sign that was a gift from my dear, true friend.  She and I have known each other since we were mere tots and she pretty much knows me to the core.  The sign "Ruthie's Refuge", while sweet when she presented it, struck a cord this morning.  Even though, the place is in a state of chaos (as is the world), it is, indeed, my refuge.  It is, indeed.  

 

The Gift Of Friendship

  It is not often that you will come across a friendship that lasts a lifetime and when you do, cherish it like no other.  Today, I was reminded of just how precious a true friend is by one of my oldest and dearest.  Son and I were working on a few "inside" chores as rain left us pretty much housebound.  The small room where "my" tools are stored needed a good cleaning.  This glorified closet space, not only contains a lot of my more rugged art supplies such as drills and saws but houses a good many of his tools that are used to create clue hunt props.  There are also about a billion and one nails and screws jammed in tubs, jars and boxes.  Those containers had our attention today and were scattered about the living room floor as we sorted.  

  Along about noontime, there was a gentle tapping at the door.  A surprise visitor to the Bayou was notifying us of her arrival.  As I opened the door, she and I both squealed in delight as if it had been a lifetime since we last saw each other.  It matters not that it has just been a few weeks as we were equally excited.  Ann was one of my very first friends outside of the family.  She and I started school together and graduated together but then went our separate ways.  A few years back, we reunited as if not a minute had passed between our time together despite the fact that it had been years and years.  Friendships that are meant to be have no time boundaries, obviously.  

  Ann came bearing a gift of the sweetest sort.  She had a very unique garden sign created for my funky gardens.  On it, she put my childhood name "Ruthie".  She is one of a mere handful of folks who even remember that was the name I used for the first six years of my life.   Now, my gardens have a name "Ruthie's Refuge".  How fitting is that??  I immediately acquired Son's help to hang the sign across the "creek bed" that I am creating as a drain for the roof runoff.  Once the area is completely cleaned and landscaped, this will likely become one of my favorite spots in the yard and really will be my refuge!   Thanks, Ann.  Not only for the incredible gift but also for the lifetime of true friendship.  I cherish each and every moment.