Wednesday, October 12, 2011

friends

As most of my blog friends know I moved country when I was past middle age. 48 years old in fact! The first 5 1/2 years were spent living in Virginia. I had one really nice friend who I met at a quilt guild there and we still keep in touch via email and phone. She was the only good friend I made, I found it very hard to make new friends at my age. Back home in Australia, friends were made in school and then at work and then through my own children. It was harder here, I had no family, no old friends.
We moved to the mountains of upstate NY in August 2009. I have made more friends here than I made in Virginia and funny thing is, people in the south told me that it would be hard to get to know people in the north. I found that not to be true. I am off track now but wanted to write about my friend Renee who is also my neighbour. Renee and her husband and 3 little girls knocked on our door the weekend we were moving in. They welcomed us to the 'road' with a jar of peach jelly and warm hearts.
Renee is in her mid thirties and she has 3 little girls under the age of nine and now a baby on the way. We have become very close despite our age difference. She is like a surrogate daughter and more. We both love to cook and garden and during the long winters we drink tea and coffee and drool over seed catalogues and plan spring gardens,swap recipes, talk about our latest books and sometimes do needlework.
Today I am making her lunch for her birthday. She asked for my salmon patties and salad. Easy. I asked her what cake she would like and she asked for my Lemon Drizzle cake. Easy again. One day when her babies are grown and all at school and she has freeer days, I will teach her to quilt. Friends don't have to be the same age as you. Renee and I have a twenty year age difference.

I love this photo of Renee and two of the girls last winter. Off back home after a visit.

21 comments:

Kandy Disenos said...

Lovely post!! I think I understand very well your feelings about be in new places and make new friends, I had that experience too, and sometimes it´s difficult because our closer friends usually are from school, university... but life it´s generous and put wonderful people on our way :) I found new friends like you!! it cost me some time but now I have great friends in my new city, and one of them it´s 20 years older than me too!! ;)

Bella the Bead said...

Rooee, We've moved quite a bit in our corporate life (grew up in Wisconsin, moved to Michigan, then Georgia, then Pennsylvania, now we're back in Georgia.) New friends are a wonderful addition to our lives, too - no matter the age! <3

Dee said...

I can empathize since we have moved many times! I am so glad you have such good friends, it makes life so much more fun and interesting.

nangatesdesigns said...

Very nice post and I'm so glad that you have found good friendships!

Susie Tenzer said...

how nice to read about your move & your friend! thanks

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I've lived in the same place all my life (college was only time away from home - 4 different states). Hmm - roads must be fixed, let me know when you'd like a visit and I'll pop over the creek.

Johanna Zweden said...

What do recognise this story, We moved many, many times, and every-time it is harder for me to make friends
I am 56 now, and her in Sweden it is impossible, to make friends, they don´t understand my hobby! buying a nice piece of material and than cut it in pieces and sew it together and make a nice quilt out of it, and send it to a charity in Holland!!
I am happy I have my web-site, and trough there I keep in touch with my friends who I met on my moves and travels, and in 2 weeks I go to Holland and that will be a big party, and then when I come back, we will be in winter, and I will be a little beer in my den!
After being away for more than 35 years, from Holland, I don´t know where I belong!!!
friends are very important were ever you are!
You are lucky to have found new ones
Love Johanna

Kathleen said...

It's great you've found new friends in your new home....

BorneoBatikraft said...

Dang Roee, you don`t look your age at ALL! 0_o

Michelle said...

While making friends no matter what your age is difficult, it's great that you were able to connect with someone no matter what the age difference.

Prodigy Crafts said...

Where in New York do you live? I live in Westchester, I moved here from Europe 2,5 years ago. I understand how hard it is when all your old friends are far away. Luckily my husband's family is huge and I'm never bored)

Jessica Brown said...

Rooee, I'm glad you met a good friend in New York. I grew up in New York City and lived there most of my life. I moved to California 3 years ago, from what I see, most people who live outside of New York or never visited have a misconception of NY. I believe they go by what they see in movies and TV. On the contrary most New Yorkers are honest and friendly people. Anywhere you go, there's always good and bad. I'm glad you found the good.

evey said...

I agree with Jesse. I have lived int he NYC metro area my entire life. We are generally a lovely bunch of good hearted people. Glad you were able to make friends.

Jessica said...

Lovely post! Moving can be rough but good friends help make it all easier :)

beautiful swag store said...

its good to have good friends..

Charlene said...

How fun that you made such a wonderful friend! I've lived here forever and have so few. It's great that God can bring two people together. Good friends are truly a gift from God. Enjoy!

ElfRenee said...

That's so sweet! I'm glad you were able to make friends! :) That's so hard to do. For me, at least.

Deb said...

uniquecozytreasures- Nice story and glad you made a good friend. I completely understand the age difference. My best friend is 18 years younger than I. She is the same age as my older son, infact. She is the daughter that I never had. I sold her one of our German Shepherd pups a couple years ago that we had raised. That's how we met. I have her pups older brother, so we get together for dog plays days at her farm and share many other interests. Her parents are no longer living so I guess I'm her mom substitute. Age makes no difference sometimes(lol).

petitehermine said...

Thanks for sharing such a sweet story. I hope to make new close friends as I get older and you've given me hope that one can find true friendship at any age!

Miss Hillbilly said...

Weve moved a lot in the last couple of years and it is amazing how different people can be depending on where one lives. I met the best friend I have had a few years ago--but now we don't live near each other. She is 25 yrs older than I am.

Hoola Tallulah said...

MMM lemon yoghurt cake sounds good, I am deffo going to try that! I love your sweet dolly :) I am no stranger to absentee bloggery, meh, don't fret it, were still here!