Generation Bridges

 Pondering the importance of friendships in our lives.  This is an ongoing thing for me, I have been blessed by so many different friendships over  my many years.  Tonight I am thinking of Louise and Matt.

   As a child from  ages 6  until I left home this couple lived just two houses south of ours in the row parallel to Harrison Street.  Louise was the age of my grandmother and was one of my grandmother's friends through their lives as young mothers, raising children.   I was lucky to have my grandmother living just across the street  to the north and Louise so nearby.  It is wonderful to be totally accepted by someone who has the wisdom to serve as a guide during the difficult years we call "growing up." 

Louise had a rag rug loom in their home.  Often this was a place I could just 'hang out' and share thoughts of my life, problems I had encountered, difficulties with my peers and such, while I might be wrapping her strips of cloth into ever growing rag balls that she could use at her loom, passing it back and forth during our gabbing session.  The rug slowly lengthening,  me doing much of the gabbing, Louise doing much of the listening.  Matt in the corner, reading a paper, or just soaking up our chatter. 

Her husband played a big part in this friendship. After a big snow storm the path behind our houses was cleared for small legs to push through.  As I walked to school down the back alley behind our houses on a winter day it would not be unusual for Matt to be out of sight amongst the various out-buildings and he would throw snowballs  to announce his presence.  All year round he provided little moments of fun.  He always made me feel welcome to come into the warmth of their home for a bit of a visit, or a treat.   

When I got to the adult stage of my life I realized that this relationship with someone two generations beyond, unrelated, was not the common thing.  Louise  and Matt had likely had similar activities with their daughter and my mother, living so close, as they did with me.  My parents were totally comfortable with  my connections with these fine people, knowing I was safe and being positively nurtured by them.  They helped me to become who I am.  The bridge across our  years has influenced my interactions with others throughout my life. Acceptance is a major need in the lives of all people, all colors, all ages.