Windows or Frames?

Karan Gleddie had come for a visit; all the way from Calgary Alberta to Port St. Joe, Florida, where I live.

It was March and Karan was looking forward to lots of sand, sun and surf.   Unfortunately, Florida was experiencing some of the coldest spring weather in history.  Needless to say, she was disappointed, graciously disappointed, but nonetheless, disappointed.

I did my best to make her visit fun.  The truth is we always have fun no matter what we are doing.

After plenty of retail therapy at all the malls within a fifty-mile radius, we headed to the local video store to rent a movie or two.

Right from the beginning I knew this last stop was going to go badly.  As we walked into the store, Karan caught her purse in the closing door, then stumbled off one of her three inch heels.  There was a loud, yikes-kind-of-squeal and everybody looked our way to see what the commotion was about.  Karan adjusted her hair and pressed on as if this sort of thing happened to her all the time. (it does). 

We selected our movies, without incident, and headed to the checkout counter.  A very pretty teenage girl was clerking and I, never being one to miss an opportunity to strike up a conversation, said, “Gee you have beautiful skin and your eyebrows are perfect. 

The girl smiled shyly and said (as they do here in the south), “Why thank you, ma’am.  How sweet of you to mention my brows.  I just had them done.” 

Where upon Karan says, matter-of-factly, “Well, you know, the eyebrows are the windows to the soul.”

There was a pregnant pause, while the girl and I, and another clerk on a ladder, considered Karan’s remark. It had a familiar ring, but was definitely off-key. 

Then the guy on the ladder says, “I think that would be ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul’. 

Knowing her as I do, I could see Karan formulating a recovery.  Then the laughter started (me less than the others since I am, after all her best friend.)  But the guy on the ladder actually looks weak and the clerk behind the counter is so amused she is gasping for air.  Meanwhile, Karan patiently waits for the laughter to die down.  She is neither embarrassed, nor does she seem the slightest bit unhinged.

She smiles that sweet girly-smile, for which she is famous, and as she scoops up the rented videos her last words were, “The eyes are the windows, but the eyebrows are the frame.  (Nice save, Karan. Nice save.) © DHD~ 2003

Girlfriends:  God brought us together at a time when we each desperately needed a friend, and for thirty years we have weathered traumatic personal storms, wept through life’s terrible disappointments, rejoiced in one another’s achievements, and have screamed in utter hysteria over our foolish antics.

God brought us together and He made us best friends, because He knew we were the best match to hold each other up in the hard times, and knock each other down a peg in the self-important times, but most of all we love each other unconditionally—just like He loves us—unconditionally, no matter what!

Though we both come from “Jerry Springer Show” backgrounds, here is what we know for certain:  We can’t change the shape of our bodies, nor slow down aging.  We cannot change our pasts, or the nature of our parents. And though our childhoods may not have been perfect, they are over.

We have prayed and preached and punished each other through two decades of a friendship which was surely made in heaven. 

John 15: 12-13 “I command you to love each other in the same way I love you.  And here is how to measure it—The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.”

“A real friend is one who walks in

when the rest of the world walks out.”Kara

–-Anonymous 

** Karan’s Update: Tuesday June 23, I will be have my long awaited surgery in Calgary, I am so thankful that God has opened all the right doors and taken care of the details.  Thank you each one for your kind thoughts, prayers and card, I am blessed by you all, Much love and Hugs,

Lovingly, Karan