Surprise Flowers

Wow, I received such a lovely surprise at my doorstep this weekend. These gorgeous flowers to your left were sent to me from my dear friend that lives in Maryland. (I'm in Texas)

Sheri and I have been good friends for several years. She is the reason that I started illustrating. We met one summer when we were both moving in to housing on  the same military base in Washington DC. We would often meet at our back fence to dish the dirt, talk gardening and eventually writing & illustrating. Sheri is a fabulous children's writer (She recently won caretaker of the year so that should give you an idea of how great she is with kids!)

Anyway, she knew that I liked to draw and encouraged me to illustrate one of her Pb's.  We were both pretty green and went the route so  many 'newbies' do ...that we would submit a dual submission to publishers. But let me tell you that experience showed me what I wanted to do with my life. Sheri is a real go getter and she helped me learn to use my first computer, found illustrator groups for me to join and dragged me along to my first scbwi meeting. I was hooked.  We would dream and dream big and here we posed , in my front yard, for our jacket photo that would go with our book.  teehee!

  Sheri and I chatted this week. We haven't lived near each other for about 3+ years and quite honestly ,we only reconnect about twice a year...you know how it is, life gets in the way sometimes. But whenever we start chatting time stands still. I have never felt such a connection with a friend like I have with her and I believe she feels the same.   She got word recently that she and her family are being reassigned to DC and of course we began reminiscing. Hence the flowers that came with the  message, " I miss my backyard buddy". I do to, Sheri, I do too.

Here's to friendships that never die no matter the distance. I love you, buddy.

The pic of us that she still keeps on display at her house.

Comments

[Tine]

Oh wow, how beautiful and wonderful for you, Roz. I am all smiley for you (sigh). It sounds just wonderful that you have someone like Sheri in your life, what a gift and blessing!
I love that photo of you two for your jacket, hehe. :-D

Sending you some **sparkly sparkles* for your bouquet of flowers !!

[janee]

I have friends like that too, Roz. We may not get together for a couple of years even, but it takes about 2 minutes to feel as if we've never been a part.

Great friends to have.

[wynlen]

She sounds like a great friend, and I'm glad she encouraged you to be an illustrator, because your illustrations are great.