Here is this year's
instalment...
On August 22nd, ASid had friends over from 8 am to 7 pm.
Not all friends were there the whole time; but it was a busy day. I got to meet
his friends and I was happy to know that they were cool with hanging out at a
friend's home playing board games and other games. I was actually impressed
with the boys.
After they left, it was the family's turn to come over.
Even as I was busy getting dinner ready in the kitchen, I was paying attention
to the conversation in the dining room. I heard ASid say these words to my
brother: My mom has the coolest friends!
I got curious and started listening intently. Turns out
ASid was talking about KPF! I wasn't surprised! He was sharing how KPF gifted
them these award winning Canadian chocolate bars. Those bars came wrapped in
paper that had tons of information about where the chocolate came from and who
made it and other trivia. I believe ASid loved that the process that went into
these chocolate bars was "industrious and not industrial"!
KPF is indeed the coolest of my friends. He always has
interesting information to share. When I was in Ottawa, I wanted him to write
something for me in my journal and this is what he wrote:
Here is to opening
up and talking about vulnerabilities.
And this is what he meant by it as explained in a follow
up text message:
By telling people
personal things, we open up and become closer.
Obviously, we can't do that with everyone we meet; but it
is easier with friends. And I got to witness such a moment.
One of ASid's friends walked into our home on August 22nd
and handed ASid a $10 note and some art work. He apologized to ASid and
remarked that that is all he can afford to give him on his birthday!
I was amazed at the boy's sincerity. This was the boy I
was most curious to meet. He is one of ASid's 401 Games' friends with whom he plays Yu-Gi-Oh. I always imagined these friends to be sort of “bad influence"
types as in they are wasting my son's
time. However, in that small moment of vulnerability the boy displayed, I
almost felt ashamed for jumping to such conclusions about him.
I know this is a regular theme in my posts these days,
but friendships are important to me. And I am glad ASid has the friends he has.
And I am glad I have the friends I have.
I have been wondering what to write for KPF for September
14th this year and then this made the most sense. I will always cherish the 4
hours I spent with KPF last April. As my visit with him concluded, we both
remarked how we could both be poor and still be happy.
When KPF said that, I wanted to tell him that he fills my
life with richness and that he takes the time to enrich my boys' lives. I didn’t
tell him then and I want him to know that now. I also want to wish KPF a wonderful
birthday and I hope his life is filled with more of the richness he so
unconditionally shares with his friends.
Happy birthday my
friend!
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