Guest Blog : Shari – The Friendship Stone Team - Now in Canada!

Every summer, usually for the best part of August I pack my bags and together with my daughter we travel to Ontario Canada for a visit with family and friends.

I have been living in Israel for 28 years, but come summer time I become a Canadian again!

This trip however I knew ahead of time that it was going to be different.  My mom who is getting older (and wiser) has not been well so we are basically staying with her and not traveling as much as as we usually do.   Mom lives in an assisted living complex, the average age being 80 – all of the sudden I feel really young!

I have been cooking – cleaning – doing laundry etc…oh yes this is a working vacation!

We also have played bingo – watched movies with the girls (again 80 and over) and gone on short but nice walks.  Spending time with mom is good.

Don't Look at my Cards

Mom is the serious Bingo Player

I want spend time with my close friends.  So I called my "girls" and explained to them the situation. Of course they said no problem we will come to you.  Mom goes to Dialysis 3 times a week for 5 hours so we are available to do stuff during those time slots. 

Last Saturday my Girl Jackie and hubby surprised me with a visit on the way to visiting her father in law in another city.

Sunday my oldest and closest friend Debbie came in from Toronto with her hubby and took us sailing for the morning on her father's boat – then picked up mom and went for lunch together,  Debbie and I  have been friends since the day we were born – we are second generation friends, our Mothers' were Best Friends too.

What an amazing gift friendship is. 

My oldest closest friend and My Princess 

Friday, my Girl Eve came in with her daughter and we spent the day at the African Lion Safari.

We were 4 little girls having fun! 

The girls played together and got along amazing.  I even had a ride on an Elephant!  I love the elephants – except I think that their eyes look sad all the time.

 MJ asked if I had a Friendship Stone in my bag, (of course I did) she asked if she could give it to her friend! I thought that was a wonderful idea – so the two of us gave Mom and Daughter a unique gift to remember this day of Friendship and fun.

Second Generation of Friends

That was fun! her name is Lilly

Now we all know that Facebook is great for connecting friends right?  

A couple of months ago I found a high school friend on Facebook(she was only in school with me for a short while but made an impact on my life) .  Claudia had come from Chile and had traveled to places that I had only dreamed about! 

She is beautiful!

Well last week I noticed that she was on Facebook…Said hello and told her I was in Canada visiting my mom.  She told me that she would be at her father's close to my mom's place – so we planned to meet. 

It has been almost 29 years since the last time I saw Claudia but when she opened the car door…. she looked as beautiful as she did when I last saw her!

Claudia was being silly and we loved it! 

We spent a great afternoon together (she brought her 6 year old princess)  - The two of us walked the paths down the Hamilton Waterfront , caught up with each others adventures in life as the girls scooted in front, and 

MJ and I gave them Friendship Stones to remember the day – Claudia received a Traveling Friendship Stone – she is a traveller – it will be fun to watch her stone travel the world. 

Ice Cream is an international language for kids!