Yesterday, I was chatting on the phone to an old friend from England.. she calls me now and then.. shes got this code that she puts in her phone and can call me for 1p a minute. Pity theres nothing like that here to call there for that price.. well not that Ive found anyway.
Well we got chatting about our lives and how different they turned out.
I met Jillie in school.. I was 11 and she was 10. We met when I had to catch her coach to my Nan's house after school.
Jillie is shorter than I am.. shes only 5 foot 2 compared to my 5 foot 8. Shes tiny.. a skinny little thing, always has been, while I have struggled with my weight constantly.
She's the type that can eat what she likes when she likes and her metabolism just eats it up!.. (the biatch)  While I only have to LOOK at a jam donut and I put on a pound!!
Jillie had 3 children, they're all grown up now.. one works on the airlines.. the younger brother is a rugby coach and her daughter is at college. She's very proud of her brood and so she should be.
I unfortunately had 8 misscarriages and 2 still births before losing both my tubes to eptopic pregnancies, so I was never able to have my own children.
Jillie is never ill, I rarely see her even with a sniffle. while I have had so many illnesses over the years. I remember when I had my stroke, I was in hospital for 6 weeks, Jillie came in every day to see me with flowers and a hug. I remember her welling up with tears as she left, blowing me a kiss and telling me to get better or else! with a big strained grin on her face.
When I saw her last, her eyes were still as good as ever.. while I had to reach in my bag for my glasses.. and after my stroke I was left with only 1 working eye. I am lucky that the blood vessels still feed the front of my eye so I have not lost its blue which keeps me at least appearing normal sighted.
Jillie is as healthy as an ox as the saying goes.. while I have to watch what I eat after discovering I lost a kidney.. or at least its normal function about 2 years ago.. the doctors still are puzzled as to why this occurred.
Jillie and I married our husbands on the same day back in 1987, her marriage is still strong and happy while my marriage dissolved after he walked out to be with a woman half my age after 12 years.
I suppose you could say that Jillie is everything I am not..
But yesterday she blew me away with the most wonderful compliment Ive ever heard.
As we were comparing our lives and the many differences.. she said...
"But you know Iv'e always been jealous of you dont you,"
ME?
"Why??"
"I've always wished I had your determination and your strength.. I couldnt have coped with half of what youve been through in your life."
Funny.. Ive never seen myself as strong and determined before.
"I couldnt have coped with many problems without you around." She continued...
Its true I have always been there for her, but never realised how much she had appreciated and relied on me.
38 years as friends and I suddenly learn that my best friend who is everything I am not, wished that she was as strong as I.
And there was me thinking I had been relying solely on her all this time.
2 friends.. as different as they come in every way possible.
I suppose we had been relying on each other all this time and I hadnt realised how much she had needed ME! ..Me.. the infertile overweight sickly and often lost on my way person was needed and loved by someone who had it all.. or so I had thought.
After I put the phone down, I thought about what she had said.
Yes.. I suppose I am strong to have come through the things I have, I know I am not a defeatist. But to hear it from Jillie struck a chord. Jillie who has everything yet had wished for my outlook on life.
I guess it shows that sometimes.. some people appear to have everything.. and the people that appear to have far less........
..................................................................... actually possess more.
Heres to Jillie.. my bestest friend ever for the inspiration for my blog. 
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| The most wonderful compliment........ |
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