Christmas is always a good time to remember friends who live too far away to see very often. I had a close friend in high-school and after graduation she worked at the local Bank and I worked at the Drug Store. We later roomed together to help on expenses. I have to laugh when I think of our wages. We would work and be paid at the end of each week. Thankfully everything was pretty much in line with our wages……..so it stretched by being careful.

We both married and went separate ways but managed to keep up with one another. We were there for encouragement, prayers, hope, sympathy or whatever. Over the years it went from letters and phoning to our first computers and cell phones. We are electronic grandma’s now and our writing is more about family, health-issues or passing on news from other classmates.

My friend has some kind of eye deterioration and I can’t remember the name specifically but she is losing her eyesight and there isn’t anything that can be done about it. She has crocheted afghans and little stocking caps and donated them to her hospital nursery for years.

Now she is limited but continues to crochet the two afghan patterns she has memorized. She wears a light on her forehead, and crochets as she listens to books. She was always an avid reader but now checks out audio tapes from the library. She said for a gal who couldn’t walk and chew gum she can now crochet and read at the same time.

She is just one example of finding a way to redefine what could become handicaps. I am proud of her “can do” attitude and the friendship we made the effort to keep. The card she sent had to be read to her but she picked it out and I am proud to receive it.

If we feel limited in any way……..I know there is a way around, under, over, beside, up or down. Nothing can ever deter the human spirit.

Essentially Esther