Celebrating a friend, Happy Birthday!

I promised my friend I would not put her name on my blog, but I never said I wouldn't write about her. Today is her birthday and I want it out in cyberspace that she is a wonderful friend.  Here is a little story of how it all started. 

Jean and Marie (names changed to protect the culprits) worked together in 1989.  Marie (that's me) invited Jean to a quilt show.  Jean accepted and away they went. Upon arrival Marie locked her keys in the car and Jean kindly called AAA while thinking "what have I gotten myself into."  Marie was thinking "Jean will never do anything with me again."  AAA came, keys were rescued, off to the show.  Jean seemed to have a good time and Marie wanted to make everything she saw.  Jean purchased Holiday Happenings which was signed by the author, Crystal Carter.  Ooh, how exciting, holiday pictures made out of log cabin blocks sewn together using 1" strips (yes, one inch). And Jean said we can share this book.  Marie was happy, it meant Jean would go to other quilt shows with her.  Marie told Jean she would love to make the pilgrim picture and Jean said take the book and get started (or something like that, so long ago who can remember the exact words.)  Marie and Jean had lunch, had a good time, went home inspired and went on to become fast friends.

Fast forward to 2012 (yes, 23 years later, whoa where did that time go) and Marie dug out the book and the squares already made.  Her 2012 resolution was to complete projects started years ago.  Who knew one would be from the last century.  In assessing what was done and what needed to be done and thinking about the intervening years, here are some thoughts:        

•  Never go anywhere without AAA, even if it isn't your membership
• When you borrow a book from a new friend don't wait 23 years to return it. 
• Pick you first quilt show companions carefully as they will become part of your life.  They will bring you joy, happiness, a much larger stash than you thought possible, more patterns and tools than you can possibly use, adventure, family, and many years of memories to cherish and the anticipation of memories yet to be made.

And now it's 2015, 3 more years have come and gone, we are many miles apart but iChat, email, and phone help.  And pictures sent of projects in the works or wonderfully completed  are always shared.  Here is her very own mini quilt show.  

And her current project is from Barbara Brackman's blog . Check it out by clicking Civil War Quilts

She is my best friend, the sister I didn't have and my very special sister in Christ.  She lifts me up, convicts me, makes me laugh, makes me cry, and is there for me even when I didn't think I needed her.  On this, her birthday, I hope you all have a friend like her in your life.  

Joyfully celebrating your life my dear friend,
Terry