Karen arrived around 11:00 a.m. It was so good to see her! This was only the second time we'd gotten to be together, but it felt like she was a long, lost friend. Immediately we embraced and both of us were overcome with emotion. It's hard to explain, but just knowing that each of us understood the other's journey was so comforting. Neither of us would have had to say a word and it would have been just fine.
We sat down and visited for a few minutes, catching up on the past few days' events. Karen was eager to get started on the photos, so she spent a little time getting ready, and then we were out the door. My husband, Phil, was our chauffeur for the day and we were so thankful. We pulled up to the first location I'd chosen and got out of the car. Unfortunately, we hadn't realized how very hot it was going to be before planning the shoot for today. Within just a few minutes, sweat was beading up on our foreheads, but we decided we'd just work as quickly as we could.
Both Karen and I wanted to make this a lighthearted and fun photo shoot. She had brought some tulle tutus that a friend of hers had made. Quickly she donned the purple tutu and I donned the gold and white one. I explained my first concept for a photo and got her into position. I mounted my camera on the tripod and adjusted all the settings for a perfect shot. Moving from one backdrop to another, I got some nice shots! My husband was kind enough to be my assistant and worked holding the reflector or adjusting the tripod for me as needed.
The heat was unbearable and all of us were dripping wet with sweat. Karen suggested that we drive to the nearest Quick Trip for a cool treat. As we entered the store, I was a little embarrassed because I knew we were going to draw attention to ourselves...no, we'd already taken off the tutus, but with her bald head and my lack of breasts, we were quite the pair. Nothing phased Karen though! She marched right up to the ordering window and went about her business. Cautiously, I looked about wondering what the others in the store were thinking. This was the first time I'd been out in public with Karen. I don't know why I was embarrassed or uncomfortable because Karen certainly wasn't, in fact, she'd told me that she'd come to grips with her baldness months ago. I was thankful she was as confident and as bold as she was because I felt like a timid little mouse.
In the car, we enjoyed our fruit smoothies as we drove on to the next location. Phil, Jamie (my youngest daughter) and I had discovered a wonderful playground last week. The playground had some great swing sets. Karen and I had already discussed that a swing would be a great representation of our journey. As one of us pushed the other, it would symbolize how sometimes she's encouraging and supporting me and at other times it's vice versa.
Ominous rain clouds loomed overhead but we continued on to the park. When we arrived, there were many children in the area. As Karen and I walked through the playground, I saw that the two swings I'd picked out for the photo shoot were empty! I set up my camera again and instructed Phil on how to focus and shoot since both Karen and I were going to be in the photos. We had such fun pushing each other on the swings. I think we both felt like we were little children again.
Although the playground swing set was in a covered area, the sun was sweltering. Karen, Phil, and I sat down a few minutes to rest and then decided we'd better head back home. Both Karen and I were exhausted both physically and emotionally.
When we arrived back at the house, Karen began to gather up her things to leave. I told her I had something to give her and I'd like her to sit down and wait a few minutes so I could bring it out to her. As she sat in the livingroom with Phil, I went to get the collage I'd made for her. I explained to her that I'd worked on it for 6 hours the day before and that each item on the collage was symbolic of her journey with breast cancer. I wish you could have seen her face when I presented it to her! She was so overwhelmed and began to cry uncontrollably. She and I sat there for the longest time just allowing the emotions of the moment to wash over us. We were both so tired from the photo shoot but we were now in the midst of a tsunami of emotions. She was so shocked that I would take time to do something specifically for her. I was overjoyed that she appreciated all the work I'd put into the collage. She was overwhelmed with happiness. I was overcome with God's gift of friendship. Back and forth we were washed in this relentless wave of emotion. It was a huge culmination of days and weeks of struggle, but also a sweet release. She and I embraced without a word between us and just let our tears mingle together. Phil was so sweet to just sit quietly observing a sweet sisterhood being forged.
A long drive lay ahead of Karen so she left shortly after we'd been able to compose ourselves. As we said our goodbyes, we were already planning our next visit. Were it not for both of us having gone through the experience of Breast Cancer, we'd never have met each other. Some say it was a chance meeting through an internet site, but both of us know otherwise. We know that God ordained our meeting and we are both so thankful for His marvelous gift of friendship.We know our lives are intertwined for a season and for God's perfect reason.
Karen has already taught me so much about strength, boldness, openness, and honesty. She is a wonderful, strong woman. She is a warrior, a fighter, a sister, a friend, and I am so blessed to have her in my life. God is good! We're not quite like Lucy and Ethel from the "I Love Lucy Show," but we're close! Karen's an extrovert while I'm an introvert. She's confident and self assured, while I'm not quite there yet. We definitely make a great team and I'm sure we've got many more chances to get into trouble ahead of us. It's a perfect friendship!
"A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity."
Proverbs 17:17Amplified Bible (AMP)
