Wednesday 16 September 2009

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may







.....Old Tyme is still a flying






Yes - Robert Herrick knew a thing or two about making the most of life because nothing stays the same. Nothing is forever.
I have been in reflective mood all afternoon since a friend called to say that they were going to move back to the South of the country to be nearer to their children, as they feel their health is beginning to deteriorate. (Shall miss you, M).
We have been friends for well over twenty years and have weathered a lot of storms together. We were widowed within a month of each other and, together with a third friend, also widowed about the same time, we gave each other love and support. Now all three of us have new partners.
Of course, we all know that nothing is forever - but somehow we put the fact to the back of our minds until it is brought to the forefront by some event. But it is all part of the natural cycle of life - we are born, grow old and die and the next generation takes over, just as each year the plants come up, flower, fruit and die back
The apples ripen on the trees, are harvested - and eaten! The nuts grow on the hazel bushes, ripen, fall off and are taken by the squirrels! Every year the holly comes into berry, decorates our homes at Christmas and then starts all over again.
Yes - I am in philosophical mood - and not a little sad - to think that another stage of our lives is coming to a close - thank goodness for e mails, I say, at least we can keep in touch that way. Now I have to persuade her to start a BLOG, so that I can read about her daily exploits - how about it M?
##The hazel nut tree and the holly bush were photographed in the pasture this afternoon;
the apple tree in the vegetable garden.

19 comments:

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

It is a shock to hear friends are moving away. I feel for you.

My three best friends all moved thousands of miles away within a period of 2 years. One back to France, one to The Netherlands with her new love, and my best friend Mary moved across Canada to Vancouver 9 years ago. We email several times and week and talk often on the phone - and what a great excuse for a lovely trip - and are still the best of friends - that did not change.

You have to mourn the change/loss, and new things will flow in to fill the gap . . . but you know all this - love how you compare it to the changing of the seasons. It's as if nature tries to prepare us with all its changes for the changes that will come in our own lives.

Hildred said...

Ah Weaver, the passage of time, - it is a theme that is always with me as we grow more aged. I am very mindful of time, albeit the thought is not always consciously apparent. And the loss of friends. We have lost so many to death and the deadly loss of mind, - if only they had just moved across the country (sigh)....

It has its positive side in that it heightens your awareness of time and how precious it is, and the importance of making each day count in a positive way.

Gratitude takes very high priority with us!!!

Teresa said...

Beautiful photos.

The thought of not being able to get together with a good friend at a moment's notice does tend to make us melancholy. Yes, email is nice; and yes, those seasons continue to come and go, leaving little untouched or unchanged.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

"Gather ye rosebuds..."

Ah, such a line. Philosophical moods are just what we need some days, especially when reeling from change. Supposedly change is good, and sometimes it is. But some days would be nice to not have any. Great post.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

I know just what you mean about being aware of the passage of time. Autumn always accentuates it for me. I am sure you and your friend will manage to stay in touch.

Unknown said...

Putting it like that...makes me feel a little sad.

Heather said...

Beautiful seasonal photos Weaver to help me adjust from summer(?) to autumn. I don't like change and hated it when a friend and her family emigrated to NZ. They couldn't have gone further away could they? We still write though and I'm sure you will not lose contact with your friends and the internet will keep you up to date.

Anonymous said...

Yes, autumn is a little melancholy when things seem to fade and drift and we think of the end of things.............gosh, now I'm sounding maudin......
Someone recently suggested that blogs were like prayers.
Records of what we are grateful for.
I sort of like the idea.......

CHummelKornell said...

Very reflective posting. I have always felt that the one thing by which to judge one's wealth is the number of friends we have in our lives. I have been fortunate to have a group of friends who have been together forty-one years. It is so wonderful to know that whatever happens, we are always there for one another. We are spread out across the nation, but have always kept in touch. I really love the movie "The Ya Ya Sisterhood" which deals with the bond of female closeness. If you haven't seen it, please try to. It's funny, but still a lot of truth. Sandra Bullock is in it.

Penny said...

I am feeling a bit that way with this trip as I will be spending my 70th birthday with a friend who I have known all my life and who now lives in Germany and I am wondering if this will be our last visit, she has a heart complaint so cant come back here and well I think it will be happy and sad.
Weaver can you email me your phone number and we will try to catch up.

Jinksy said...

With holly berries like that, no wonder you talked to me about Christmas, today!

steven said...

hi weaver, you're such a good soul i'm sure that your friendships run really deep for you and your friends. i have a very accepting approach to friendships in terms of their mutability. but i empathise with how trying it must be to see yourself past a change as pronounced as any longterm relationship suddenly changing. have a peaceful evening in the dale weaver. steven

Cloudia said...

A very fine post, Weaver!
Here Here!

Aloha


Comfort Spiral

mrsnesbitt said...

The internet is a great tool, allowing us to keep in touch! Yes a blog would be a great idea! Must meet up soon, possibility of a butchers shop visit over your way! Will be in touch!
Dxx

The Weaver of Grass said...

I do hope M reads all these comments - they might persuade her to start a blog.
I do agree with you all that friendships are one of the most important aspects of our lives. We gain so much more than we give from our friends.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I think one of the unsettling things is "change" for whatever reason. We all have our construct of our "reality" and we struggle to fit everything that happens in our lives into that construct - and when it has a major hole knocked in it, then we are a bit like the honey bee - we have to rapidly fill the hole by whatever means we can.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Firstly START A BLOG, M, PLEASE for Weaver (and everyone),You'll enjoy it!I could actually feel the sadness in this post,Weaver,but like all the things you mention, it too will pass.It's maybe a poor consolation but that's a pretty good mood for writing so I'm looking forward to your Monday poem.Every cloud....

Janice Thomson said...

Gorgeous holly tree.
And the cycles continue...sad but a fact of life that sometimes requires a bit of adjusting to...thoughtful post Weaver.

Mistlethrush said...

Thoughtful blog. And what spectacular holly you have!