Tapestry of Friendship Under the Tuscan Sun

There are tapestries all over Italy rich with color and content, but none more beautiful than the one the true Master Weaver wove one glorious week under the Tuscan sun ~ a tapestry of friendship.

For my 50th birthday, my husband gave me a Girls' Getaway to one of my favorite places on earth ~ Tuscany, Italy. The group consisted of me, my daughters, my sister, my cousin, and eight girlfriends.

It was idyllic. Truly. A week of stunning beauty all around us and beauty from within our group; as fourteen women's hearts were intricately woven together by threads of love, respect, friendship, laughter, and shared experiences into a striking tapestry more splendid than any medieval masterpiece we were privileged to see. This tapestry was interlaced with old filaments from childhood with my sister, aunt and cousin, contemporary fibers from many different friendships, some of which spanned thirty years, and of course, the distinct and strong strings of a mother-daughter bond. All of these strands were hemmed in with a brand new thread ~ our tour guide, Leo (pronounced Lay-o).

A new friendship was instantly fabricated. Leo fell in love with us and we with him.

A movie buff, Leo dubbed us his "Steel Magnolias." He was so intrigued and inspired by the deep, real, abiding friendships among our ladies, much like M'Lynn, Ouiser, Clairee, and Annell. He commented time and time again on how extraordinarily special our friendships were and even relayed our wonderful relationships to his own friends.

That was six years ago. Time erodes our connection and continents separate us; however, our friendship has endured.

Here is an excerpt of an e-mail I recently received from Leo ~

"Last night I saw on TV a very nice American movie, HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT, starring Anne Bancroft and Ellen Burstyn among others - what a jolly good film. It reminded me of our friendship, we may be miles away but we're so close in our hearts. You all really changed my life, had a great impact, I think that things do happen not just by chance, maybe somebody, UP THERE, had our paths crossing, don't you think so dear Becky? I do...

TAKE CARE, A BIG HUG TO ALL MY DEAR, DEAR, LOVED STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Ciao

Leonardo

P.s.
As I was writing about our paths crossing, a beautiful, warm, sun ray just got inside my room....

Thinking of you all....always"

Under the Tuscan sun, the real Son shone through radiating His love with gossamer strands of the Holy Spirit weaving a tapestry of friendship, old and new.

Visit the adorable, talented gals at http://anneandmay.com/?p=1132 for other celebrations of friendship.