Birds, Books, People

Of Tea, Books, Eagles, and a Dear Friend

78 Comments

Last Thursday I went to one of my favorite places—the waterfront park in Hallowell—to meet Elizabeth, the granddaughter of my dear friend Barbara, who died  eighteen years ago. Elizabeth is from North Carolina, but she worked in Maine this summer, and we were able to meet several times.

The day by the river was overcast but not too chilly. I brought a thermos of tea and some cookies, and we settled in for a long chat. Elizabeth was only five when her grandmother died, and I told her stories about Barbara—about how she was one of the best home cooks I have ever known; about her passion for nature; about her love of story and writing.

Elizabeth not only resembles her grandmother, but she also shares Barbara’s love of books and nature. Accordingly, the talk soon turned to books, my favorite kind of conversation. (And Barbara’s, too.) What Elizabeth was reading—Rachel Carson—and what I was planning to read—The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. We discussed the current trend of not using quotation marks to set off dialogue. I admitted that I’m not a fan of leaving them out. Elizabeth thought that it all depended on the writing and how sometimes it worked to have dialogue without quotation marks.

As we sipped tea and munched cookies, the sun came out, illuminating a white house across the river.

Wouldn’t it be cool, I asked, if the house appeared only when the sun was shining a certain way? And that it would be invisible at all other times?

Elizabeth agreed this would be very cool.

While we were talking, we heard the shrill cry of bald eagles.  One flew right over us, and we were duly impressed. Unfortunately, I wasn’t fast enough to get a picture of that eagle.

However, I did get this picture, a little blurry, but clear enough to give an impression of this big beautiful bird whose species was nearly wiped out in this country. When I was young, I never saw a bald eagle. Now they are a common sight, proof that sometimes things do change for the better.

As we admired the eagles, I thought about Barbara and how thrilled she would have been to be part of this day. She would have jotted down some of Elizabeth’s book recommendations, just like I did. (The Golem and the Jinni and The City We Became.) She would have exclaimed with pleasure when the eagle flew over us. In her excitement, Barbara might have jumped out of her chair.

I remember one day when Barbara and I were going somewhere together, and I was driving, Barbara cried stop, stop! I stopped, and Barbara rushed from the car to examine a snapping turtle who was laying eggs along the side of the road.

So in a sense Barbara was with us by the river as Elizabeth and I talked in a way that was reminiscent of the way Barbara and I had talked many, many times.

A bittersweet and lovely day.

 

 

78 thoughts on “Of Tea, Books, Eagles, and a Dear Friend”

  1. Thank you for this poignant post, a bittersweet reminder that we should take care to treasure our friends and family every day, because one day…

    I share your irritation at authors who abandon quotation marks when launching dialogue. I come across this only rarely, but when I do I tend to feel the writer is trying too hard to be hip.

  10. How lovely that you are able to continue a bygone friendship with Barbara’s granddaughter. Looks like a nice day to sit by the river, not all that many left before it gets too cold to comfortably do so.
    I read ‘The Golem and the Jinni’ several years ago, an enjoyable read.

  13. I’m glad you were able to spend time with Barbara’s granddaughter. She sounds extraordinary, no doubt getting lots of great traits from her grandmother. I didn’t know no quotation marks was a thing.

  15. Such a precious post, Laurie. It’s a compliment, indeed, to Barbara, Elizabeth, and yourself, that young Elizabeth would want to spend time with her grandmother’s dear friend.

    And yay to the eagles who have managed to overcome human’s interference. I never saw them as a kid, either, and every time I do it is an awesome thrill.

    Hugs to you, xo

    1. Thanks so much, Jodie! I felt honored that Elizabeth would want to spend time with me. And, yes, yay to the eagles. It really is a thrill to see them.

      1. Honored, yes. I think honored is the word. Both in Elizabeth’s treasuring your own dear friend’s memory and in how much Barbara must have loved you to have her grandchild want to be with you.

  18. What a lovely story Laurie, no wonder you write books! You must be an absolute treasure for Elizabeth, how precious to have someone who can tell you about your grandmother. I did not know either of my grandmothers…very sad.
    I’m glad you had a good day, sunshine and friendship!

  24. I felt envious of your younger friend that she had someone to tell her about her grandmother. Both my Grandmothers and one of my Grandfathers died before I was old enough to remember and the other Grandfather was bedridden. That sharing was good for you both and through it your friend lives on. What a lovely legacy she gave you both.

  26. What a great day for both of you, Laurie! You getting to relive fond memories of Barbara through her granddaughter, and Elizabeth getting to know her grandmother better through your eyes and memories. And no, I’m not a fan of no quotation marks around dialog — I guess I’m just a purist (or possibly it’s my English major shining through, ha!!)

  27. I read this post with a catch in my throat – it is indeed a bittersweet account, Laurie. To spend such a day with Barbara (in thought and memory) and Elizabeth…

  28. What a wonderful and bittersweet day Laurie. Barbara will be so happy to see you sharing these moments with Elizabeth – it feels as if she was with you in spirit 💖

  29. I could feel how bittersweet the day was for you, Laurie. Lovely conversations and memories. A house that only appears when the sun is out? How intriguing. And I didn’t know that some books are leaving out quotation marks. That seems odd to me as well. Most of all, wonderful reflections on your friend, Barbara. I can tell you miss her. Hugs.

    1. Thanks so much! A piece of Barbara came back as I was talking to Elizabeth. Yes, I still miss her very much. I always will, no matter how much time has passed.

  30. Your photo of the chairs is perfect. I suspect it’s a good representation of the brightness and color Barbara brought to your life, and of the day you shared with her granddaughter.
    I laughed at the story of Barbara calling out “Stop!” It made me certain that she and I would have gotten along just fine.

  31. It’s lovely to imagine you two spending time together in honour of a loved one. I read a book recently (I forget which) where the speech marks were sometimes left out and sometimes included. I couldn’t work out why, but was impressed that I could still read without difficulty.

    1. We had such a lovely time. It’s funny, but when I read dialogue without quotation marks, I get a breathless feeling from the writing. Not a feeling I like.

  32. What a wonderful day of sharing memories and creating new ones!! Loved the photos and joy of sharing books and thoughts in such a perfect location. I’ve added The Bee Sting to my list and may have to quickly move it up the list.🙂

    1. Such a wonderful day! The Bee Sting is on my shelf, but at 400 pages and no quotation marks around the dialogue, the book is probably going to get a pass from me.

  33. This is a sweet tribute to your dear friend Barbara and her granddaughter.
    I also liked your reminder that things do, at times, change for the better. It’s easy to forget amidst all the turmoil and bad news.

  34. How lovely to remember Barbara in this way, talking with her granddaughter and recalling all those wonderful memories. We can only hope that someone will the same for us one day.

  35. Lovely memories, even if they are bittersweet…
    I had not come across the “no quotation marks” style. I remember teaching my first graders to capitalize the four season names, but I guess that isn’t appropriate any more. And, the times for using “less” or “fewer”? I rarely hear that used as I was taught.
    Ha! Thus ends my mini rant! 😉

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  38. What a lovely place to relax and have a tea party with a good friend ! Love the chairs !

  39. Barbara sounds like she would have been interesting to know. Two of my maternal aunts were very much like her. I am glad you and her granddaughter have connected, and had a beautiful day!

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