BEWITCHED AND BEGUILED, CADENCE AND LOVE, WHAT MORE COULD I WANT.

I'm back on the porch. My friend has gone of to work and so I have the time to write about the last four days.

On Monday morning I got in a hire car and drove for six hours from Philly to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Given that I haven't ever driven that far in one go before, that was an adventure in it's own right. Coping with the Washington DC Beltway (ring road) which at times is 6 lanes wide.is no mean feat The biggest UK roads are only ever 4 lane. Going on Route 66, and yes I did sing when I got on it! And down this one road for TWO hours to get to my destination. Fortunately it was a very beautiful road so i didn't get bored on it, as I drove down through the middle of Virginia past the mountains

I got to my destination and met for the first time the wonderful, wonderful Sorrow. Eat your hearts out all those that read her. She is absolutely lovely. I met her family, who are all also fab,

I was there Monday evening through till Thursday morning.

She lives in the middle of nowhere in the woods. I hadn't realised, never having before left the cities I've stayed in, how much wilderness there is in America. How big everything is and how far away. But more importantly how beautiful. And where Sorrow lives is just stunning.

We spent out first evening getting to know each other, and for me it was like being with someone I had known for ever. It was so comfortable. In fact, I think for me that's something that has happened time and time again in meeting blog people, and I don't really know why I'm surprised when I've been relating to people via our mutual words for a year now!

But there is of course always a risk in the real world, bit like when I thought Trousers was a mad axe man before I met him!!!!

Meeting Sorrow though was bigger, as she'd invited me to stay in her home, so she was taking a risk, as I was driving for 6 hours to stay with this unknown person.

The conversation was never awkward, there were moments when I felt initially a little uncertain, I get up very early, was it ok to be out and about. By the end of my stay I felt so welcomed that I knew it was ok to do such things.

We went hiking up a mountain to visit a wonderful waterfall ( pics will happen next week when I can get them on the computer)
I got bitten my a horsefly, this added to ever growing collection of mosquito bites, currently in excess of 50!!!

We saw deer, two lots,,,,,

We went canoeing saw a heron. Which is becoming a very symbolic byrd to me, as most times when I go walking I see one. And this particular one left me a feather in the water for to keep. There were more deers hiding on the hillside and a beaver swam in front of the canoe. Seeing these animals in their natural habitat to someone who lives in England in a semi rural town was just spectacular.

There were many other wonderful things that I saw/ we did like the most astonishing thunder storm I have ever experienced .

But all these things, although truly wonderful, pale into insignificance compared to actually being with Sorrow and connecting with her. She is as her blog; compassionate, generous, very intelligent, so talented, loving and great fun to be with.

I feel very privileged to have been allowed into her life, to walk her woods, to meet those important people in her life, to be invited to walk her labyrinth, to be hugged and to hug right back.

It has been a very powerful life event, which at the moment I have to spend time thinking and feeling about from a distance, and in a horrible therapy phrase,process the thoughts. And so will probably come back to how it has impacted on me as I feel able in the future. Cause I do know that what went on in our talks has the ability to change how I view myself. To this end my blog may change in the next few weeks as my name is not right for who I am, and Sorrow has helped me find myself

Suffice to say my days in the woods in Virginia have been life enforcing and spiritually uplifting way beyond my expectations, and I cannot thank Sorrow enough for that experience.

CONTENTMENT THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT

Happiness and dreams are odd things. A few years ago the way to achieve both was by having stuff and wanting stuff. My house is full of collections of this and that.
My wardrobes are full of clothes, shoes and handbags.

And I would have an ache to get something to add to the stuff I already had.

Nowadays I don't need or want anything. This doesn't mean I don't buy stuff, but it's more spur of the moment like the dress in the sale in Liverpool last week. Well it looked better than the clothes I'd been wearing!! And I was going to have lunch with the gorgeous and beautiful Wakeup! So I kept it on and got complements about how pretty it was!

What I mean is that age has allowed me to loose that desire to want a new acquisitions endlessly, and what makes me happy is being with friends.

So yesterday was a red letter day. I had lunch with the first mate of the day, we work together and it was lovely after we'd got all the work stuff out of the way to just catch up with each others news.

Then of to second mates,this is a woman I've known for many years but only recently become friends with. Whilst at her house her physiotherapist turned up to give her a treatment. And I curled up on her sofa and went to sleep. No one batted an eyelid. No-one was disturbed by my needing to sleep. It was just what needed to be. It was just acceptance. 15 minutes later I could cope with the rest of the day. I felt so comfortable that I could ask for my needs to be met, and knew enough that it would be fine.

And on to the third friend of the day, one of my close friends, we both work in the NHS and first got all our excitement out of the way regarding the reports that are coming out of the government about the need for a more holistic approach to health and the need for talking therapies.... YES! that'll keep me in work then! Lord Darzi you are our hero!

Then of to the pub for dinner,conversation and increasing trust in each other as we confided in one another.

I had this wonderful sociable day cause all three women live in a 5 mile radius of each other. And it seemed silly not to sort out meeting up with them in one fell swoop, as they are all an hours drive from me.

And what I know this morning is that, friendship and love are what keep me warm in way that no number of cashmere jumpers can! And that all I need /want nowadays is enough money to put petrol in my car so I can visit. Or enough money that I can afford an airfare.

Not for me the beach holiday, lying in the sun. Or the skiing holiday Or any other sort of holiday that didn't involve being with my friends.

To sit on my friends porch next week in Philadelphia and just be together is beyond price. And she does have the best porch in the world anyway!

And this summer I'm being braver than that cause I'm hiring a car and driving approx 6 hours to go stay with the very wonderful Sorrow. Who I have yet to meet in the flesh, but have spent many hours communicating with elsewhere.

If she turns out to be as wonderful as the other people I have met in real life through blogging then I am blessed. As the lovely people who I lunch with, walk with, party with, hang out with eating scones, are just simply utterly fantastic.And you know who you are.

So that's it, I am content. And life is uncomplicated right now, as there is no man that I'm spending my time hooked into, and right now that is beyond fine.

It is OK, being on my own doing what I want when I want to do it, without having a new handbag to do it!!!