in the dew of little things

Grade twelve, it was, when we met, both of us The New Girls in the last grade of high school. And so we joined forces, cliques be damned. We were shrill with beer and opinions, bristling, ants in our pants, trailing conspiratory snickers wherever we went.

Wait. Now we sound insufferable. C'mon. We were eighteen. We were cool, if only because when uncool has company, it becomes cool.

This is Daphne, truthful and fierce and completely without drama, quite possibly the most sensible, go-anywhere person I know. As maid of honour she spoke at my wedding. Afterwards, we cracked up at the self-fanning she instinctually attempted to fend off the tears. It didn't work. Daphne, you see, is both ruthlessly graceful in the calling-out of bullshit and is easily verklempt. At her wedding, guests introduced me as her sister and we giggled. It wasn't the first time.

Please, for the love of god, do not make me do the math of 1991 to now. Let's just say A Long Time and take a deep slurp of wine. I watch her with her Sadie and the shock never fails. Were we ever those girls? Are we really these mothers? Either way, she is my sister, because I say so.

: : :

This week, let's see the camera turned upon longtime friends. Has it changed with life? Have you?

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and the sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.  ~ Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), The Prophet

Comments

[Marcie]

Here's one I posted awhile ago. Senior prom. My daughter and her 2 best high school friends:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=51

[Mod Girl]

What a tender, beautiful photo!

[Puna]

This is serendipity! My high school friend is coming to visit today! I'll make her my model and post later!

[Heather]

I love taking photos of my friends:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84443905@N00/3093671243/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/84443905@N00/2834034443/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/84443905@N00/2512983281/

They're probably my favorite subjects to shoot because I feel like i can really "see" them and their beauty/ vulnerability/ strengths.

[Kathleen/ko2008]

Isn't it amazing, once you start counting the years? Here's one of my dearest, sweetest, most honest friends...with my nephew, playing and laughing and being silly. There's nothing better tha basking in that, I tell you.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/2874345966/in/set-72157605262729995/

[Karyn]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayak57/3322924286/

i am surrounded by my 'relatively' new, wonderful friends these days, but a special longtime friend gets here in a few days. i will definitely have more pics then...

[Charlane]

part of the reason I'm excited to move back to my hometown is to be close to my girl from middle school - we have been besties since we were 13. Old friends are so cherished.

[Jamie]

It is amazing what awesome friends bring to life :) Here's some pics I took of a long time friend (from high school) and another close friend take when we were hanging out in Dallas. I love that they let me use them as models all the time :)

http://jamielynnephotography.blogspot.com/2009/02/dallas-tut-jfk-and-models.html

[Jamie]

And I love the photo you posted :)

[Julie Alvarez]

Here she is, one of my oldest friends, Yanina:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2790655925/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2791503848/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2952707059/
And here, also my friend Pitti:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2532115068/
We traveled a lot together. We studied the same career, and went to Europe together, and spent there three months.
It's been 18 years since we all met, already. I love them so very much.
We've changed, hell yes. But we still have that love.

[Tracey Clark]

this makes me cry.

were we ever those girls?
are we really these mothers?

kate, your words cut me to my tender heart. i am feeling all mama weepy.

[jfrancis]

Sisters of the heart
know love well baked
and smiles are as broaches
in a place of beauty.

[jody]

I've had a friend since before we wore bra's. Yep grade school. We saw each other last week and it was GOOD!!
We still have a laugh and remember fun crazy things we did as kids. I can't believe it was so long ago...

Here is me with my BFF Joyce and her sister =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3322879509/

[Wanda]

This is my real bio sister, but I have a circle of "chosen" sisters and we all have each other's backs. There's nothing like a sister--born or chosen...

http://whatwouldwandado.blogspot.com/2008/06/dont-make-me-call-my-sister.html

[Nathalie]

She is the one who made me believe that I really could do something with someone, have fights and arguments and a-ha moments, great conversations, she made me want more... We saw the light in each other, as a latin poet described, and we make a secret sign from time to time. I really miss her, she knows it I think.
(no pics because I don't have an online album yet, to come).

[Missu]

Very touching. I wish I had a situation like this. Thanks for sharing.

[daphne]

I am sitting here trying to wipe the tears away before I have to venture up to read Sadie her final book. I'm so touched at your post, Kate, my forever sister; I am speechless. I used to curse my parents for making me move in 12th grade but I stopped when I came to my senses; having you in my life was worth it. I wouldn't change a thing.

I love you Kate.

xoxoDaph

[kristin]

such a sweet post kate. every woman needs that one girl who they just "get" mine lives 500 miles away and oh i miss her so.

[Sarah - Ji]

Kate, everything about this photo is so beautifully perfect...the subject, the composition, the colors! Oh, I love it!

[Sarah - Ji]

Oh, and here's a photo of my dear friend Amy:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierraromeo/2602642975/
She's not a long-time friend YET, but she will be, I just know it. I love her so dearly. She is the one other mom I can always count on to not judge me as a parent and who always sees the best in my kid when I'm sure others don't.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, that smile... What a beautiful photo!

[Kirsten]

I spent last weekend with the girls I grew up with...we were celebrating our arrival to the "third floor" aka our 30s...
http://somethingcheeky.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/we-laughed-we-criedbut-mostly-laughed/

[mprofilephoto]

Beautiful photo! I like the light, colors and composition.
Great work!

[Jen]

Although my best friend and I did not meet until we were 19 the connection is exactly as you described. We met on the campus of Ohio University and the first 24 hours were spent sitting on the college green talking and talking as if catching with an old friend. It was a connection from minute one. Here we are umpteen years later still connected, but now as in your post, we are connected as moms and wives as well. What an amazing gift she has been to me all these years. Thanks for the reminder!

[Karyn]

Here's my longtime friend pic!!!

http://www.mundanedetails.com/?p=1466

[Rachel]

this just made me cry and laugh and smile and just filled my heart up.