Gifts Matter

I had a beautiful afternoon with my beloved friend Erin Damle yesterday. If we have souls, Erin’s and mine are connected.

Because our work at Clarity Care was confidential, sensitive, and difficult, we relied upon each other for advice, insight, consolation, and forgiveness. The work sometimes broke our hearts and we needed each other to make sense of some of the things we faced.

A big part of our job was to care for the people who cared for our clients. These clients had serious health conditions, or dementia, or cognitive disabilities, or physical disabilities, or chronic mental illness.

Caregivers have an extremely challenging job. Erin helped me to understand them and the demands they faced. She helped me understand my role in this epic undertaking and what things I should try to fix, improve, and honor.

Erin is my friend. And I hope she is forever. She is righteous and good and does all the hard stuff no matter how much it costs or how tired she is.

Neither of us are at Clarity Care anymore. I retired and she moved to Montana. We all know friendships wax and wane in life. Things cool due to distance and time apart. Which brings me to Erin’s gifts and the title of this post.

Erin has given me two purses as gifts over the years, beautiful Vera Bradley totes. I see them every morning when I open my closet and think of her. Everyday I sling one over my shoulder to haul my stuff and I think of her. I feel her love.

I can say the same for Kim and Sandy. I think of them everyday when I write in the journals they have given me. I feel their love.

The little box in my craft room and the sign on my stove. Both from Barb. I feel her love too.

The same is true for the little scrabble tiles that spell “Gratitude” and sit on the table next to my couch. I feel Michele’s love.

And I could go on and on. I realized today as I looked around my home, it is filled with little reminders from so many people I cherish. These reminders are like hugs from them each day. Perfect gifts.

I decided I want to be a gift giver like that. I want to give something that will feel like a hug from me every day. I can’t afford Vera Bradley purses (although that would be exquisite). I need to think about this. Even when they aren’t trying, friends teach me so much just by being who we are.

We are all so lucky to be able to connect with each other in this life. Until I can give you a reminder gift like this, please visit me here on this website and try to feel my love for you.