Gratitude Journal- Day 7- October 16, 2016.
SURPRISE!
☆ A surprise visit from a ‘surprise friend.’ I thought her original plan to come to Vancouver from Poland was no longer working out. And so I just went about my days, realizing or believing, that it just wasn’t meant to happen. But then,… surprise! She sends me a message all of a sudden that she is really coming here in mid October! Flight booked. Accommodations organized. Done. Just like that. My first response? WHAT?!!! And then YAY, Yay, Yay!!!
☆ Why did I call her a surprise friend? Well, if someone had told me that I’d meet a girl in a foreign country who loves music just as much, if not more, than I do. And that we’d stay in touch every day, many times a day, for months later, sharing songs, ideas, and being each other’s safe audience to sing and mess up and make mistakes freely in front of, I wouldn’t have believed them. Plus, it was all happening over whatsapp! Man, I never knew how grateful I would be for whatsapp. But yeah, that’s what happened, and she’s here now, and I still can’t believe it! But it feels like I’ve known her forever.
☆ She sat at a coffee shop in the middle of one of the rainiest, windiest days in Vancouver, waiting for me. And she had the biggest smile on her face, even though recent events had made her a little heavy hearted. And we listened and encouraged and shared perspectives and advice. And I loved how each moment seemed to lighten the weight on her until she was skipping and hopping around in my apartment, giddy and excited to just be in this city and to be catching up in person.
☆ My dresses fit her! The ones I couldn’t seem to have the heart to get rid of and just give away because they seemed too nice to give to a random charity or person. But at the same time, I know they would just continue to sit in my closet, unworn. So I thought, hmm… maybe I could show them to my friend. Sure, she’s slimmer, and has fair skin with long, curly blond hair. So maybe the colours and size wouldnt even fit? But you never know, right?
Wow! You don’t know. ALL of the dresses looked great on her and there were at least five. She was thrilled to take them. The smile that grew on her face each time she came out of the bathroom twirling around in front of the full length mirror to show off another dress … well, I knew they were going to the right person. She even chose one to spend the rest of the day in. A short, fitted dress, in windy, rainy Vancouver. Haha! That was awesome! And it looked like it was made for her.
☆ The surprise journal gift and pen she bought me- from the Chopin Museum too! It was perfect- “It’s so that you keep writing your songs,” she explained. Well, little did she know I had a little gift of my own for her as well. Uhmmm… it was also a journal I bought to encourage her to write and record her own song ideas as well. It had stylized colorful figures all holding hands around a vibrant, smiling sun on the cover. So fitting. It really is a small world. All under the same sun and moon even though we might be in totally different parts of the world. And it’s fascinating how life brings people together. I am so grateful that life brought us together.
☆ Scheming to surprise a mutual friend of ours who didn’t know that this surprise friend was even in town. We refrained from posting anything on facebook until the surprise took place. THAT was hard because we were so excited. But, I think our efforts paid off. The surprise was successful from what I heard. I wasn’t there to witness it, but I can’t wait to hear about it soon when we all three meet up on Monday afternoon.
☆ I wish you could have met my friend, Mom. She took the framed picture of you off of my shelf for a moment and held it in front of her, looking as if she genuinely wanted to observe and know you more closely. Thank you for giving me the heart and qualities that allow me to connect to such wonderful people from all over the world, Mom. Whenever anyone gives me a compliment, my favorite response these days is, “Thank you. My mother made me that way.” It’s true. Everything that is good about me came from you, and from your mother as well. I hope she is taking care of you up there
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