The first time I saw a dead person I was five. It was not in the horrific way that many young folks see such a thing; it was at a funeral. A family friend passed away, and my father and I traveled to attend the service. I feel disappointed to say, but I have no idea who was buried that day now in my 30's...
What I do remember is that I was incredibly distressed. It was obvious to me from the rosy color of this individual's cheeks that they were still alive, and were about to be buried alive! I was, of course, totally wrong about this. I did not understand funeral make-up or that my words were upsetting if anyone were to hear them.
I held death in my hands and found that there is no way to position your fingers so that does not sting. I have many words for this experience now, but then... All I knew was that if this person was truly gone, then we all would be one day. I looked at my father, impossibly strong and obviously immortal, and shook in my little boots. My dad would die someday, I realized in terror.
To quiet his sobbing niece, who could suddenly not speak her feelings out at all, my uncle took my hand. "Let's take a walk," He said. We ended up in a gift shop, where my oldest friend and I found each other. Meet Elizabeth!
I've had this pal for nearly thirty years now! She is absolutely my oldest friend, and perhaps the one that set my standard high for all the ones that were to come after. Her fur is matted, she has repaired rips in various places... but I will NEVER part with this cat.
She was set in my arms in a moment that I will remember forever, and she rarely left them for the years after. I hugged her while I slept the other day, as silly as that may be. I still love Elizabeth.
How much does friendship mean to me? EVERYTHING. I am a blindingly loyal person, if you can manage to inspire such a thing from me. It is not easy to be my friend, I do not trust or bond easily. I tend to write people off in the hopes that they do not hurt me, and that has been proven again and again to be the right choice. A much as I find beauty in this world, I also find it's opposite.
You can say that I am then my oldest friend, as stuffed animals do not talk... You would be wrong though, and I'd find myself graciously agreeing. I don't really enjoy professing how nuts I am... yet. 😂 Sure, I'll do it here anyhow— there were many days of my life that I had no one but her to talk with. I was an "only child" living with a dad who had to move us constantly.
I was lonely and she made sure that I could move through that.
In general, I do not discard anyone or anything without a reason, and I (perhaps foolishly) expect the same. The blanket she sits on in this photo is also nearly thirty years old. It is a brightly colored Rugrats blanket that is perfectly functional. When I needed a blanket, I picked this one from the linen closet. So what if it is embarrassing for a 32-year-old woman to have a cartoon blanket?!
I hate buying anything, ever. And besides, no one comes over my house who I feel I have to impress. I've long done away with such people in my presence. So, a functional blanket was all I needed.
If I thought on it, I'd have 100 things to mention in response to prompt 2 for this week... Yet, I am here to talk about friendship actually. I think a good friend sees your heart no matter what; is on your side in the moments that it is the least easy to do so. Loyalty is proven in chaos.
A great friend and I sat on this Rugrats blanket together on the edge of my bed a while back. We shared things that the other didn't really agree with, but supported, nonetheless. She's the only friend I will take time to spend with these days in person, everyone else I like lives elsewhere. That is because we have grown together through so many things, shared so many experiences, faced adversity hand in hand. A true friend remembers who you are and loves you, no matter what.
Friendship is a treasure, one that we hold in our souls. At my age, I don't care much for making new friends. I like people; I need to see what is in their hearts to want to bond though. Younger me might have some choice words for this development, and I'd let the little lass have her tantrum. She got us into all this sort of thinking, but I wouldn't tell her that.
I don't regret that I once was so open, nor will I regret doing the opposite. I will keep sharing the parts of me that I am comfortable with, in all of their vulnerably odd "glory", but I protect my heart now. I choose my friends wisely, as I hope they also choose me.
This is my response to the weekly prompts from the Ladies of Hive community. 🤗
Hiya, Elizabeth! <3 I knew I'd love the post as soon as I saw her picture. Even before I saw it was your post :))) She's gorgeous. I like how she seems to be in permanent sneaking position (and what an origin story!). I reckon it's fair to say you're your own oldest friend (and very poignant, if we're going the thinky route. Lotta people make it into their 50s and still aren't their own friend, so..)
Massive yes to cartoon sheets and blankets. I thought I was the only one. For me, it's a judgment of one's character (and compatibility, ultimately). I can't resist a person who's got cartoon sheets and isn't afraid to display them.
Ewo! My own oldest friend, Măgă, saying hello.
I'm beginning to think we may be distantly related! A sister from another mister hehe 💚
Măgă is beautiful too!! Awe I feel so special to get to meet her in a way like this! 💕 I think with these types of friends, some of their story stays on their faces just like us fleshy people (er that's a weird way to put that but I know you'll get it LMAO)
WAY agree with this! It's like a signal for kindred spirits. For me, I'd include things like a love for goofy music/ ways of dressing too. It's like a protest against a world that tries to make us too serious, monetarily focused and "grown up" ✊
Sorry for the critically late answer to this beautiful comment, the life monster snatched me up for few days with a bureaucracy KO lol
Măgă is now confused...and not entirely comfortable with you assuming genders this way. You, my friend, are on thin ice. But low key, he's glad to meet you too <3
If nothing else, this sentence alone is proof we are somehow related. xD Sick and tired of "grown-ups" who don't think it's okay to have stuffed toys after a point. And I think you're right, they all have stories, personalities. You just gotta be very boring not to see it.
Yess! People take themselves way too freaking seriously. Though, in my experience, it seems the people who don't do that and enjoy goofy shit and having a laugh are also actually the more grown up and mature ones. Like, the beige ones are just playing at it and afraid you'll blow their cover or something.
oh no! hope you kicked him (it?) in the shin before fleeing.
Oh noooo! Măgă forgive meeeee!! (Or push me under the ice, iffin you need to my guy 💗)
And ahahaha I really like the phrase "the beige ones" I looked it up on urban dictionary and now I'm totally adding it into the ole vernacular 😎 what a perfect term for those silly billys!
I'll grow up... never! No one can trick me into doing it, and now that I'm a mother I have two great cheerleaders for such convictions (at least till they are older 😅 oh dear...)
I did indeed kick it, right in its paperwork (face?) ahahah
Thank you for the smiles 💕
Ha, made me look it up on UD xD I picked it up from Billy Connolly, one of my idols. He spent his life evading the beige, and I plan on doing the same.
Nah. They may have their "Mom, that's so embarrassing" moments, but then, all kids do. I reckon they'll come to appreciate having a non-beige mom when they grow up a bit. It's damn rare in this world and makes a huge difference. I have friends who complain about how boring their parents are and how fun my mom is. I wanna tell them, that's because yours are beige losers and always have been. It's not a matter of a parent choosing to do a fun thing or a boring thing, it's an entire ethos. You either have it or you don't. You, thankfully, do. And what a delight it is.
❤️
Măgă says you're okay. For now.
In my world, my Stuffies can talk and they always know what was on my mind.❤️
Heck yes! 😎 I totally agree with that 💕
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Wow. Such a beautiful friend one can ever have. As long as you find your peace. I don't see any problem with your cartoon friend.
Its just that making new friends these days needs caution. So you don't get yourself into what you cant come out.
Your entry reminds me of a friend so special. Who in my name took loan with the hope of investing and paying back.
I saw it as an opportunity which would work out 99.7% success for the investment. Because I trusted him, I gave him a go ahead. Guess what? Till today he is no where to be found.
Post like this inspires me.
Thanks for sharing
Gosh I'm so sorry to hear that someone who you trusted used it against you in such a manner 😔
Sadly, so many will manipulate us into helping financially with no intention of making things right later. I cannot imagine giving up a friend for greed, but people are complex I guess... Sigh
Similar experiences led me to tighten my guard as well. I suppose the money I lost paid for a lesson in the end, but a very hurtful lesson to say the least.
Thank you for the thoughtful read and for sharing some of your experience here with me 🤗
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I thought Elizabeth (a fancy name for a fluffy cat) was a teddy bear, she's gorgeous!
As for the funeral, I can just imagine how horrified you were as a child, seeing that person being buried alive ;)
Not foolishly, that's how it should be @grindan <3
Thank you so much Lizelle! 💗
Ahahah I really was! I tried to tell a few adults, but none of them would listen to reason 🤣
Hugs and appreciation your way 🤗
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It's nice to see that you have this cat as a precious thing (your best friend). I was once shocked to hear people laugh and criticise a man who had a teddy as his travel companion and good luck. They said mean things about him needing to get over his traumas etc. It opened my eyes as to what the critiques were made of.
I had a precious doll and my mum threw it away because she felt it was unhealthy for an adult to have a doll. I was gutted and felt betrayed. She had no right to do so. I thought that she could have kept it and probably asked me what connection I had with the doll instead of just ditching it.
Good on ya!
I hate people who try to impress, and if anyone is expecting me to do anything to 'impress' them, they will be disappointed.😍💙
It's terrible how so many have nasty things to say about things that do them no harm. I hope he kept carrying his teddy and it brought him the luck to not run into such sour pusses again!
I'm also bummed to hear about your doll, it's really hard when our parents dismiss us with these sorts of actions- I had a similar experience with Elizabeth, my mom gave her away, but thankfully I was able to recover her later on.
And ahahaha I love that! Heck yeah 😎 in my experience trying to impress others is a commitment, one I have trouble seeing the benefit of... Life is too damn short 😂
Hugs your way Milly 🤗💕
Awww what a story to how you got such a lovely doll! For thirty years and it still looks so neat, really cool.
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Thank you very much! The prompts for this week were a lot of fun, my gratitude for giving me something to write about 🤗
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The fact that you expect people to treat you the way you treat them isn’t foolish. Kindness should always be reciprocated
It’s good to see that you can at least keep a friend for so long. It’s just like a skill that so many people do not have
God also loves those who cherish friendships
Kindness grows in our lives the more of it we spread around I think heheh
Thank you for the sweet comment 🤗
At first when I saw the stuffed animal, I didn't realize it was a cat😂😂😂
Quite odd to see a stuffed cat toy... Bears are really the norm in my side of the world 😹😹
Hey Seki! Cool to get a visit from you 😄💚
Hahahah! I think bears are more common here too, although in the US we really stock anything someone might buy, and they do LOL- for my daughter it was a stuffed owl, which I had to purchase a doppelgänger for in case it was ever lost- OH NO!!
Of course, that dang thing (named Cutie) was only like 2 inches tall and was lost A LOT. Heh 😂
You've now made me consider global stuffed animal trends, it's cool to think on how many of us, no matter where, search for this type of friend. Cheers to you 🍻
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A stuffed owl?
That's quite an odd one 😂😂😂
Is she a Harry Potter fan perhaps? What did she name it?
😂😂
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