Storytelling Starters ~ Autumn leaves
You know what it’s like! You’ve got to make a decision but so many options are swirling round in your mind you find it impossible to choose. Well, it’s just like that this week. As I sit down to write this blog, too many different options present themselves. For one thing, I want to write about the gorgeous colours of Autumn leaves I just saw when taking a walk round my local streets.
Choices: a journey
But I also want to write about going all the way to Langwathby in the north of England earlier this week. The journey was to attend the funeral of the lovely mother of a dear friend who has been one of my closest friends since we were at University together. The memorial service was simple, straightforward and loving and all the lovelier for that.
Choices: my birthday
But I must definitely also write about my birthday. This was last Wednesday. It was the day after the memorial, we were still in Langwathby and before going to catch the train back to London, it was such fun to be able to share my birthday breakfast with several long-term friends who had also traveled up to the north of England for that funeral and were staying in the same hotel.
Choices: old friends
At the same time, I also want to be writing about several very valued old friends, two in America, another in New Zealand, all of whom sent me the loveliest birthday messages. These were awaiting me when I opened my emails after getting home from Langwathby. One was a musical e-card where the name of the person to whom it’s being sent can be inserted. So the colourful balloons floating around in the sky on this ecard began and ended with the singing of my name. Wonders of technology!
Sum total: friendship
And now, thinking about these various choices of subject that presented themselves to me when I sat down to write this blog, I realise I no longer have to choose. I’ve already now written a bit about each and I see that they’ve all got something to do with long-lasting friendship. So when I now go out again to take photos of gorgeous leaves, I’ll think of the leaves as reminders of the splendidly coloured pleasures of friendship.
Tags: Autumn leaves, birthday, funeral, Langwathby, old friends