The windows are blank and bare in her house and all the folk art and books and paintings that made it such a friendly place have been loaded on a truck, along with her furniture and even her car, and are probably making their way through the Midwest along about now.
Josie's been a part of our family for a long time. I met her in a painting class over ten years ago and was drawn to her because she always had a quiet smile as if she saw a bit of a giggle in everything.
I even wrote about Josie in Art's Blood - she was the one who ushered the obnoxious woman on the cell phone out of the class -- something that actually happened.
We'll stay in touch by the internet and I plan to go visit Josie -- and she says she'll come back to see us.
But still -- there's an empty spot in our lives today and even the spring flowers look a little sad..
29 comments:
Awe. I'm sorry - I've had to be separated from great friends too. It is hard, but thank goodness for modern technology. And I LOVED that part in the book when the loud phone talker was ushered from the room. What a hoot! I'm glad to know it really happened :)
Isn't it the truth!? This week my college buddy and best friend moved to Florida. After all these years. We would have coffee every week, people watch, talk about and solve world affairs, and laugh our butts off.
Now what?
Rick
She sounds so very lovely, you will miss the close contact. I loved her in Art's Blood ;-)
I sympathise with you, Vicki. It breaks the heart a little when dear friends move far away, even though there are so many ways to stay in touch nowadays.
Two of my best friends moved away last year and I still miss them. They leave such a gap in our everyday lives. You wouldn't believe this but I have just picked up Arts Blood again. I had other reading I had to do and put A>B aside. I am loving it.
A big warm hug, Vicki!
I know how it feels, only in my life I was always the one who moved away. It is true, though, true friendships live on!
It's always a wrench when friends move away. I hope you don't lose touch with Josie, as I have with a number of old pals. What is it people say - don't be a stranger?
One of the great joys of modern technology - and unlike so many people I think there are so many - is that it is much easier to stay in touch with friends who live far away. The sad thing is that all that technology has still not enabled us to get Spring to arrive a little earlier each year. But, there again, perhaps Global Warming is working on it.
The French say: "partir c'est mourir un peu".And that's true. You will missher. I remember the scene in Art's Blood too.As a matter of fact I am rereading it now.
Oh Vicki I completely understand how you feel. My dear friend Patti moved to Florida at the of December. We lived directly across the street from another and were bonded from the moment we met over seven years ago. We even had a jewelry business together and share our most guarded secrets. In fact when my mom died she was immediately there and so much apart of my family. I miss her horribly.
I completely remember with fondness that gentle spirit you beautifully described in Art's blood. I cheered at that part. You know what is funny, Patti would have totally done that. One the things I love the most about Patti is she suffered no fools and it sounds like Josie didn't either.
On the upside visiting California can be fun. I just wrote about crab Louie and a place I love in San Diego. I lived there most of my life. Anyway I'll be thinking about you because I truly know it feels to be jipped by geography.
It's always hard to see a good friend go.
Thank heaven for all our modern communications...they bring us closer together then ever before.
It's not like running into each other at the grocery store, but it helps keep friendship alive and well.
So many friends use Skype.
((vicki))
its no fun watching friends move away...
What a bummer. I hate it when good friends move away. Of course going to visit will be loads of fun and always something pleasant to look forward to.
Oh, I'm so glad so many of you remember Josie's incarnation in Art's Blood -- I thought it was absolutely the COOLEST thing when she did that.
And I'm looking forward to visiting California!
I've always been the one to move away. Thank you for letting me see through the eyes of the ones left behind.
I'm sure Josie will miss you terribly. And you will be required to visit her often. If she's moving to wine country, I'll sacrifice myself and accompany you to visit.
Or San Francisco. Or San Diego. Or ...
Kath- CA expat
Girlfriends are treasures to be cherished and nurtured, for sure.
When we packed up to move from Atlanta, I was happy and ready to leave the big city, but my heart was breaking the whole time about leaving behind those sisters of my heart. Thanks heaven for email. It's not the same as sitting down at a kitchen table with a cup of coffee, but it at least helps keep the bond from breaking.
Josie sounds like a wonderful friend. I know it's not the same, but with technology the way it is today, you will truly be able to stay connected. Reading this post makes me realize that I need to pay more attention to my friends.
You have flowers? I need to peek outside, but I don't believe mine are brave enough to come out yet.
Have a wonderful day!
Just horrible when a friend moves away. I know that feeling. You will miss her for a long time. Just console yourself with the though that you will get to enjoy a visit to California one day when you can fit it in to your busy schedule.
My heart goes out to you. Dear friends are priceless and even though you can stay in touch, it still isn't quite the same. Take care.
Tammy
I feel your sorrow. I moved a state away from my best friend 15 years ago, and she moved a country away from me 3 years ago. I'm happy to say that although distance seperates us, the friendship is still very strong. Thanks to frequent phone calls, video chats on skype trips back and forth, we manage to stay connected as good friends do. It is my turn to visit her, and I can't wait to see the Canadian Rockies. I'm grateful she is only a continent and not an ocean away.
Your flowers are lovely.
I know I will have to deal with all of this when we finally make our move to Madison County. One bonus - my best and oldest friend lives in Atlanta and it's the first time in 30 years we will live that close to each other - and my other closest friend here in IL has fallen in love with North Carolina and will build a retirement home in Brevard. Of course, the grand babies are a whole 'nother story :(
I'm sorry, Vicki. It's hard to have those holes in your heart when they happen. I've always been the one who moved away so you have given me a different perspective on it. Take care.
So sorry for the loss of your friend. Like so many others who have commented here, I lost two dear friends (family, really) who moved away to Michigan last summer. We stay in touch and visit, but it is not the same, and that is hard. I have never been the type to welcome change with open arms!
Sorry to hear about Josie leaving. I'm sure you will enjoy visiting California. What is the name of the plant at the bottom of this post? We have some wild in our driveway and they smell so sweet.
Living in such a transit community, nearly all my dearest friends have pulled up their temporary roots and moved on. It is truly sad to see them go. On a lighter note, I love Josie's yellow walls!
Misty -- the shrub is Pieris japonica, aka Andromeda aka Lily of the Valley bush. Here's a link with more about it
http://www.humeseeds.com/efpieris.htm
Tess -- I love that yellow too!
We make very few true friends in our lives, though some of us have many acquaintances. It is always hard when one of those friends moves away. Things always change and sometimes not for the better. But, you will always have the knowledge of her friendship to warm you. That won't change with distance.
It's always sad when a beloved friend leaves. I hope the two of you will be able to visit. So glad to know she had a part in your book Art's Blood. Now I can put a face to her character! Can't wait for another one of your books. I'm rereading the ones I have til then.
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