A certain bridge develops between women separated in age by a couple of decades . Sharing dreams and expectations, some shattered, some strengthened, with a much younger or older friend brings in a great deal of freedom and latitude. I guess it could be compared to the great times which we girls shared with that unpredictable, rebel or fiery aunt in the family?
Sonal would make me tea.. and while we would drink that hot, strong, ginger laden chai, she listened to my stories and she told me hers. We remarked on our common grounds of trying to become dispassionate observers, of telling our emotions where to get off, of talking about a relationship and dissecting it down to the bare threads and realizing that it all finally boiled down to one’s own chosen response.
There are times when a friend is testing the waters of adult life, making her rules, setting up her boundaries, taking responsibility for her choices. And that’s when my life choices start to make sense to her. She can relate to that fire of perfection burning bright within, of being strong and true to herself.
In my journey through life, there have been many younger and older friends, with whom I have cleared my mind, and grown wiser together. I love the way it all clicks into place, again and again. And then, I will find I have another daughter from another mother.
Months of watching me knitting and talking and walking dogs and laughing and thinking out loud, and Sonal would have wanted to give me something which I could treasure forever. Not because she has given it, but because she had put perfection, honesty and soul into it.
In the same way as I have succeeded in bringing exclusive, exquisite and perfect knitting into the lives of the knitters of Needlestosaymore, Sonal has succeeded in producing this heartfelt, truly original, authentic and perfect gift for me. In these days of technology and online substance, I have been gifted with something so perfect, true and authentic that I now have to live up to this. A gift and a guide.
What more can one want?