River Reprise

It was bracing today as we walked by our river, the expectation, the waiting, the wanting drifting away like the running tide we watched as we wandered. I felt like a weight was lifted, the realisation that we need to enjoy the little things in life for when we look back we will realise they were the big things, today more than ever I realised how very true that was.

For a few short hours all that is good fell into place and I found myself revelling in the happiness of my friend, to see the smile in their eyes, to hear their laugh and share their company was, as always, a beautiful thing, knowing there were “only two fields away” was very comforting. I know they think I am as mad as a box of frogs but it’s true their company and their friendship are one of the truly precious things to me, something I value beyond all else and would, if I could put it in my box, with the few other things of “value” I treasure. With the drawings that box became a little more special today…

I had hoped I would be able to take a monochrome portrait of them today, not to Blip but just because… but their reluctance was not required as I had, like a dufus, not put the memory card back in the camera. Their laughter was infectious and I too smiled at my idiocy but it hid my disappointment. After the cold of the wind on the foreshore we went and shared some coffee and talked, the way you talk about nothing really but absorb the energy from that exudes from the person opposite you. The coffee warming, but not as warming as their company. The opportunity of another shot missed, this time the lipstick on the coffee cup I thought how good it would be in monochrome with the colour saturated on the lipstick but again no memory card, I was sure I had one in the car but I could not find it as I scoured the glove box.

All too soon our time together was passed; again I felt that empty gut wrenching feeling, the hollow feeling of parting that I hate. The feeling of not knowing when we will walk again, when we will see one another that makes me sad, a roller coaster of a day; as we drove out of the car park, I could not do anything but watch them turn off, a wave seen in the rear view mirror and they slipped from my sight, the lump in my throat tight as I caught my breath, not wanting to go…

I had to walk again this afternoon, retracing our steps, camera safely carded I had to settle for second best today but a shot of our river with a little bit of colour to lift the spirits, well as much as possible. Our river behind and beyond the familiar sight of Dumbarton Rock.

I spoke to my friend from the airport, another miscommunication meant a missed opportunity for a final coffee. It was lovely to talk again the soft beautiful voice making me smile once again. As I type my friend will be in the words of the song “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and that makes me sad but I promised a Blip before they land...

For my friend, thank you for today, come whatever may I will see you soon and I hope you smile and enjoy our river again