Jill is my talented friend who is always doing something interesting and/or outdoorsy and who I had to put my foot down a couple of times after invites to events I knew were not in my wheelhouse. It was because of her that I actually had to verbalize what I had previously only thought to myself, "After 30 a person can stop doing things they have already determined during their 20s they don't like doing." In Jill's case, I had to expressly apply this rule to her invitations for me to both join her at Folk Festivals and hiking expeditions. (I have a similar rule of, "After 30 you stop asking your friends to help you move, and hire movers." but this has nothing to do with Jill and everything to do with how wise I thought I was after I turned 30!)
My vetoing of folk music aside, Jill and I have enjoyed many glasses of beer or wine at our homes and on patios while listening to other varieties of music. She made cool CDs for me - back when we still listened to CDs! We have visited other types of festivals - ie, Lilac - and have enjoyed walks by the river (being not on a steep incline, I endorse such activity!). She taught me how to make jewelry and introduced me to the Ironwood Grill in Inglewood. I vaguely remember one Stampede together where we enjoyed an Alan Jackson concert followed by dancing and Denny's with strangers during Stampede. Currently, Jill is one of my online Scrabble buddies. We taught together in Airdrie for a few years before my going on sabbatical afforded her taking over my contract.
Jill loves to paint her house. Jill is afraid of birds. Jill speaks three languages. Jill has hilarious stories to tell about many blind dates she endured prior to meeting and recently marrying Adam. Jill is creative and uber-thoughtful. She drove all the way to Invermere one afternoon to buy me a handmade bracelet with blown glass beads; a gift from my staff and school the summer before I embarked on my sabbatical and subsequently transferred away from that school. She loves to learn, works hard and embraces change. She clearly has an abundance of patience and energy as well; she and Adam recently adopted two beagle puppies!
When we worked together we obviously saw each other a lot. Then we only lived in the same quadrant of the city but it was still reasonable to get together on short notice. Now she lives down south and teaches in Chestermere, but thankfully my ever-roving hair dresser took me to her neck-of-the-woods. (We have vowed to get together with a little more frequency, as my appointments dictate.) We caught up over burgers at Earl's this week and I am so glad we did. Her wedding pictures are stunning and her shop-talk inspiring.
"After 30, it's wonderful to be secure in one's friendships and able to meaningfully catch-up, even after many months, even years."
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