gold

Saw Belac's class play this morning. Arrived to see that Kati had saved my husband and me seats, and then saw that my new friend, Dot, had arrived with her daughter and pulled them in next to me. And so there I was, in between two of the kindest people, who know all there is to know about my son, watching all of our kids in the play.

Before the curtain opened, Dot and I had a few minutes to chat. She explained that they had had a very difficult morning and were lucky to have even made it. Her daughter, who is mentally-handicapped, could not get things together and her neuro-typical son, Belac's classmate, lost it and they had all arrived late and were still unraveled. Our conversation meandered through several topics. I found myself recalling to her how just 2 years ago, I had sobbed through Belac's entire play. I was speechless and shocked to see him on stage without an aide and looking like everyone else for 3o minutes. Gimky, she pointed out simply before kissing me goodbye, this beautiful, put-together woman who I never knew had any stresses in her life until I met her daughter only recently. You and me. We don't take anything for granted.

It was such an easy, matter-of-fact but substantial interaction over what are awkward subjects for most people. There was no pity, pressure, competition, BS, over-interest, unsolicited advice, schadenfreude, or any of those feelings that make me squirm with most people.... Just the understanding that it's hard sometimes and life goes on and you do the best you can. And this is what I love about the few friends I am so lucky to have. They're gold.