FRIENDS - OnE OF LIFE’S BLESSINGS
Friendship - One Of Life's Blessings
Where would we be without our friends? My wife and I have been blessed recently with a week-long visit from our good friend from the West Coast. We did so much in that period of time, created so many memories. My good friend was the first person to welcome me back on to these shores of my homeland in 2012. For the most part, I'd been away for 26 years, and while visiting frequently "on holiday", that wasn't the same thing as having two packed bags and a carry on with you as your "possessions" on your permanent return to the country.
She took an entire week off work to show me all of the best places in her "adopted" Southern California home town. It was so nice to spend this past week with my good friend re-acquainting with her and showing her, all the neat things to do in Northeast Ohio, her old stomping grounds.
In my historical fiction, "Oh! Susannah", very early on in the story, I introduce "a friend" to my main character, Susannah Reigle - my 3rd great grandmother. I chose "Druscilla" to be Susannah's friend because the census records for that time period showed her family lived nearby, had recently moved into the community from a neighboring community that Susannah's family was originally from, and "Druscilla" was Susannah's same age. It simply made sense looking at these facts 180 years later. Druscilla never married until she was 50 years old, allowing me to fictionally make her an area activist and Susannah's best friend.
Druscilla attended the women's rights movement inaugural convention in Ravenna, Ohio, met with abolitionist followers of John Brown, who were based in Cleveland, Ohio at that time, and intermingled with those prohibitionist leaders of the day. Ohio was an hotbed for all of these societal changes during the mid and late 19th century. Trust me when I tell you, women were the organizers and agents of change during this time in our history.
Susannah's friend, Druscilla, is as critical to the story line as Susannah herself. That's how important friendships are to us, especially life-long ones. I've been blessed with the best friends; friendships that no barrier can prevent from nurturing - no expense spared as well.
I believe Susannah was blessed similarly and it has been a true joy to write about this aspect of her life.
It's with great pleasure and a smile on my face, that I say, "Thanks, mate!" for being my friend and allowing me to spoil you this past week. Where would we be without our friends?
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