As I gathered my supplies, stopped by Sonic and pulled up in front of Michelle's house I had to keep myself from thinking too much about how it was the last time I'll be doing these things for awhile. I actually had to remind myself that I wasn't moving far away or dying...just starting a job that will no longer allow us to have our weekly sessions of creativity, talking and life-saving therapy (no big whoop right?).
Eva was at the table working on some writing when I got there, and even that choked me up because I've been sitting at that table (actually an older table before this one) since Eva was just a wish Michelle was hoping for.
Here's a vintage Creative Friday flashback to tiny Eva.
And a flashback to SUPER tiny Eva!
And a flashback to SUPER tiny Eva!
I can't remember what I said to Michelle, but I got all choked up and managed to squeak out, "I can't talk about it" so she knew what I was feeling, but that it was best we not explore it. Instead she said, "Will peanut butter M&Ms help?" Of course they did.
I love this picture because it captures my photo cards, plus Eva in deep concentration while saying something at the same time, and has Michelle in the background making us lunch. Just thinking of all the fabulous lunches she has made me over the years causes a swell of emotion.
We got back to our lunch roots with some homemade chili on baked potatoes with some of Michelle's fabulous homemade grape juice.
Though we were fighting a severe bout of melancholia we managed to have a good, productive day.
Michelle assembled more sets of her genius Paris Colors cards, which she will be selling in a soon-to-be-created Etsy shop near you.
Oh happy, happy stash of goodness.
You'd think after all these years we could have managed to take a self-portrait without a sun spot on my face, but no. Apparently that's an art that takes decades to perfect.
We did a little fake cry for the camera to try to capture the sadness of the day, but it was as I was leaving for real and we hugged goodbye that I started to lose it for real.
I sobbed most of the way home.To the casual observer all of this would most likely appear to be melodramatic and ridiculous. But to those who have been reading my blog for a long time or who know me in real life know that this is nonnegotiable, weekly event and has been for like 10 years! I went back and found my first post about it and wish I had documentation of our gatherings for all the years previous.
Our kids have grown up with this weekly tradition, and have become good friends because of it.
How could they have ever been this small?I think we've done a good job of teaching the kids about friendship, creativity, service, thoughtfulness, and motherhood. I hope they will always remember those times at Michelle's house and will look back fondly on those weekly visits.
