Friends and Lovers

Angry Man!, originally uploaded by With A Twist.

I can't help but look back over the years and I'll limit these impressions to the past 20+.

This past weekend we went to a friend's cottage for the weekend. The cottager is someone with whom I worked back in about 1982. Another couple was invited as well. Also friends dating back to 1982. And then there is the pseudo-angry man in the picture. I first met him around 1982 when I was married with small children. He was new to Canada and a single guy looking for a life here. We hit it off as friends immediately. Over the years we maintained our friendship even though we each were following different paths. I stayed put with my husband raising my children and building on the ideals of marriage and family. For him, his job took him to a number of other cities while he searched for what was important to him. A wife and a family. He eventually found the person who would become his wife and had the children who are now part of him.

Over time he moved away to the other side of the continent but we kept up our friendship. Eventually, my marriage came to an ugly end which I communicated to him via email. He called immediately to express his condolences and ensure that I was okay. Several years later he sent me an email where I sensed that he was far less than happy. I called. Yes, he and his wife were seperating but moving back here.

It seemed so natural for me to be his friend upon arrival in the city. Someone to help him find a place to live. My home was a safe comfortable place where he could bring his daughters on the weekends when he had them. It didn't take long before our long standing friendship blossomed into something more.

And now, I have been living with my friend, my lover, for the past three years. Gradually we have gotten into a rhythm of life which includes his teenage children and my grown children.

Looking back at last weekend with our friends, I couldn't help but feel the peace in spending the weekend with people I have known for 23 years.

The only difference is 23 years ago he and I were not together. Now we are and very happy.

Call it karma or whatever you like. It works for me.