My friend, Janet, who lives in Arizona, came for an Easter visit. Janet is like spring itself. Everybody loves her and she arrives in a dramatic flurry much like the Virginia Redbuds (and she was here at the same time). It rained on Janet’s first day in Virginia but that was fine. Rain is a novelty for those who hail from Arizona and it gave us a chance to catch up on things.
We were so busy with old memories and making new ones that I almost forgot to open the computer for a whole week. I was absent from cyberspace if anyone was taking roll call and I could hardly read or comment on blogger friend posts.
We visited with two of my grandgirls (who had once upon a time long ago shared pretend little-girl-tea parties with Janet). We watched movies and shopped and dined with other friends. Mostly we reminisced and caught up on our lives.
On Easter Sunday we three were invited to a brunch at the local country club. What a grand treat that was. And what a lovely day too, with spectacular views and scrumptious food and genuine laughter and joy.
Vivien Leigh
On her last evening here, Janet and I went to a one-woman presentation by Betty Kahn Taylor at Washington and Lee University’s Lenfest Center for the Arts. The performance was of Marcy Laferty’s Vivien Leigh: The Last Press Conference.
For younger bloggers out there, Vivien Leigh played Scarlet O’Hara in the film, Gone with the Wind. Have you seen Gone with the Wind? I think I have seen it seven times or more. Vivien Leigh was British and so is Janet, who says, “Toe-mahh-toe,” instead of tomaytoe. Imagine how difficult it would have been for Vivien Leigh to play a southern belle with a believable drawl!
The redbuds are fading a bit as if sad to see Janet go. But she was homeward bound yesterday. “Next time, next season,” we said, “Something to look forward to.”
Virginia Views 
She sure looks like a fun lady, just like you :). I’m glad you had such a wonderful visit!! By the way, I love Gone With the Wind, the book and the movie. I also loved the spoof they did about it on The Carol Burnett Show. Did you ever see it?
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Aren’t old friends such a comfort? I’m glad you had such a nice visit with Janet….and I certainly remember Vivien Leigh and her “southern drawl.” Fiddle-de-dee! Leslie Howard who played Ashley was British, too, come to think of it.
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I do love you Cindy because you are the only one who can see my irresistible (latent) qualities. LOL! But Janet is truly one of those flames that people are drawn to and a whole lot of laughs. BTW – I did see the Carol Burnett version of Gone with the Wind….. hilarious in her drapery costume! I have a very early version of the book too – almost a first edition. It was my Mom’s and I think there is an ad for the movie folded up inside.
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You are right about Leslie Howard being British Barbara and he was playing a southern gentleman. He did not want the part of Ashley. I don’t think Clark Gable wanted to be Rhett Butler either. But everyone was so perfectly cast in that movie. Amazing.
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Clark Gable was born to play Rhett, wasn’t he? And Olivia deH. as Melanie? Perfection. Come to think of it….wasn’t she British too? Good Grief! Off to google.
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Meet you in Google search! LOL! 🙂
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Oh, your friend looks like she brought the party. I bet you had a lovely, great and spirited reunion. What a great spring break from blogging.
So who did you run into at google and what else did you find out there?
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The value of such friendship is immeasurable. I read ‘Gone With The Wind’ as young girl and loved it.
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Yes, Janet always brings the party along with her. She’s a fund raiser and event planner for non-profits so you can just imagine. As for Google, I was joking about meeting a new blogger friend today who thought she should go to Google to find out which characters in Gone with the Wind were really British. I can’t remember if Gloria DeHaviland was British or not so mentioned “meeting at Google” to get such answers.
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Hello Bluebee! You are so right about the value of long-term easy friendships. They fortify and restore and remain forever priceless treasures.
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You mean there are people living in the world who don’t know who Vivian Leigh was????? Say it’s not so!!!
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None of my young grandgirls have even seen Gone with the Wind or read the book! What a terrible loss huh?
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Almost a first edition?!?! What a treasured possession that is – you are so lucky!! By the way, your irresistible qualities are easy to see :).
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You are welcome here – any time! And you may even touch my copy of Gone with the Wind. 🙂
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Oh, your redbuds are sad to see your friend go! 😦 What a beautiful sentiment in that one line, speaks so much about the special place she has in your heart. I also loved the reference to the once upon a time long ago tea parties. You always know just what to be thankful for, Dor.
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Awww, thanks :). Do I need to wear white gloves?
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I could stare at your Redbud photo all day, Dor…it’s spectacular! You’ve only seen Gone with the Wind seven times…I think I’ve seen it at least 30x if not more. I love that movie! Glad you had fun with your pal!
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What a lovely time you had with your friend! She looks like one fabulous gal!! I really enjoyed reading about your attendance at the Vivien Leigh presentation. I loved Gone with the Wind – I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen the movie and read the book. But believe it or not, I just read the book again this winter. Oh, fiddle-dee-dee, it was a good time to re-read it. 😉
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Wonderful to see friendships that stand the test of time and life’s travels. Beautiful post as you celebrate your friendship and Janet. Love the photograph of Springs’ kiss of color.
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Nice post Dorothy. So glad you shared a special week with Janet and the girls! Nice way to break in the spring season 🙂
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How I love hearing from you “daisy!” I remember your so-supportive comments from when I first started blogging and how you inspired me to keep trying. It is wonderful to know you are still watching. Thank you!
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Appropriate reverence will suffice! 🙂
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Thirty times?!! Well, maybe I have seen Gone with the Wind more than seven, but nowhere near 30! I have a copy now so will try to catch up with you. 🙂
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Cindy, I wish you could meet my friend. She really is a “fabulous gal” who has always made us feel special and we cannot help being more special when she is around. And yes, Gone with the Wind is a great book for cozy winter reading. I am suddenly inspired to watch the film again though. I see something different in it each time.
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If I could paint the way you do, I would try to paint the color of a longtime friendship and equate it to Spring. Thanks for your lovely comment Mary.
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I am so delighted to receive your comment Emmy! And of course, you are right – we have now broken in the spring season with a lot of smiles. 🙂
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Your redbud dresses up the landscape–lovely! Glad you had a great time with your friend. I was surprised when a blogging friend came east from AZ and was delighted when it rained on their vacation.
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Of course I am! 🙂 I truly enjoy reading about the way you see the world. And I consider us blog-buddies! (I also thought happykidshappymom was way too long of a user name, so I switched. Maybe someday I’ll go with Melissa, but Daisy seemed fun for now…)
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Thanks Patti! Just goes to show we should enjoy our rainy days, but boy, the sun sure feels good today! 🙂
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Having a blog buddy named Daisy is an absolute joy! I love it, but the happykidshappymom handle speaks the truth about you and yours and offers a lesson in a name!Either way, you and your posts and your books and your outlook on life and love are priceless. 🙂
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LOL!
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I know what you mean!
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Awww…. thanks, Dor! And I think you are one of the few people who noticed the order of the kids/mom name. 🙂
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