I watched Jane Austen's Emma the other night. I love both versions: one with Gwyneth and one with Kate. The story is so sweet. I couldn't help but stare when I saw Emma and Harriet Smith talking, taking tea together, nearly knee to knee.
Hardly ever do we meet over tea; knee to knee; face to face, to catch up on all the news. We meet for coffee in shops; we meet for dinner in restaurants; we email; we Facebook; we Myspace, we text. In Emma's day, face to face was the only way---save for letters hand-delivered---to communicate. They savored every moment of someone coming to visit. Things were tidy (cuz the "help" did it!) and upon the arrival, everyone straightened up to look as if they hadn't a care in the world when the visitors were announced. Then the visiting began and the focus was on each other, on each other's face and words.
I see my friend Connie very infrequently even though we talk on the phone every day. It was as if God heard my yearning at watching Emma. Connie called me up and said she was coming over to bring me some books to read--and I put the kettle on. It was a sweet visit; hugging in the flesh, face to face. Gracie adores her, and they made over each other grandly (we had to roll the hairy effects of the loving off of Connie's lovely outfit!)
It was the most peaceful part of my day.
Matchmaking aside, Emma knew what she was doing.
7 comments:
I loved Earl Grey
with Gracie and 'k'...
every single dog hair
was put with love there.
Twas a gift face to face
with kiki and Grace!
She was pretty lala'd out when you left, after her doggie massage! :-)
Thanks for coming by!
I feel this (in a guy sort of) way on Thursday mornings when I have breakfast with they guys.. but maybe not quite so sophisticated :)
I'm sure you guys are way sophisticated, KB! :-) That's a good thing you do!
I think we have lost so much in this age of technology.
Grateful I am for all the things that make life easier for me, but it seems people always find a way to be far too busy to just take the time to visit one another.
The line I am thinking of comes from Willa Cather's Death Comes For the Archbishop, and it goes something like this:
Men travel faster now, but I do not know it they go to better things.
Always important to take that time. And very much needed is that time.
So glad you had that time with your friend.
My best,
M
So nice to have a friend.
I know what you mean. It seems all i do is talk on the phone and email.
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