Friend

I don't know her or she me other than we'd met at a dinner gathering and sat beside each other during a lecture.  She intrigued me.  I had heard snippets of her life, her journey from Africa - across The Pond to Utah and then to my neck of the woods in N. Idaho (what are the odds of that). Her dilemma of finding a midwifery practice where she can serve touched my heartstrings. I know two midwives who are so busy they can hardly find joy in their craft.  Surely there is a place there for this wise, brave and gentle, world traveling midwife. Surely there she could find a place to land and regroup.  I had hoped.  I was wrong, though I suppose not too surprised. I selfishly mourned though. I had hoped to get to know her better, to glean some of her wisdom, her knowledge, her sense of ...

And then...

She called me last night, just to talk.  Right off the start, she said she needed a friend to talk to and would I be that for her.  How bold!  Don't you think?  I've often wished I had the guts to do that.  There have been people I've met and I've wanted them to be my friend, but never really knew how to go about it. But here it was, the answer.  Just ask!  It seems so foreign to me.  I can't imagine calling anyone on the phone and just asking them to be my friend.  In fact, normally I'd shy away from anyone asking this of me.  Honestly, I don't know why I didn't do my usual "duck & run" routine and politely end our conversation last night.  I'm puzzled by my own behavior.

After we spoke for 30 - 45 minutes (and had a lovely conversation) she mentioned that its her African way to NOT call me back.  If I wanted to pursue a relationship with her, the ball is in my court.  AGAIN, how simple, how lovely!  I told her that I appreciated her telling me that sooooo very much.  I tend to get so easily sidetracked with my life, school, my midwifery future that my friends are the ones who have to do all the reaching out.  In fact, I told her that I was going to have to call a good & dear friend and apologize for just that!  She encouraged me to do it.   I will!

After we had ended our phone call, my husband looked at me, a bit puzzled.  He too knows that this isn't my nature, to just say I'll be someone's friend.  I'm normally very very cautious about who I "let in."   Hmmm... this is so strange to me.  

In the meantime, I'm happy that she called me and I'm definitely going to call her back.  Regardless of what comes after, I'm certain that she and I were meant to meet.   Seriously... from Africa to UT to ID, practically in my own back yard?  Oh Yes, we were definitely meant to meet.