“Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.” ― Shakespeare

Those of you who follow my garden efforts will recall seeing the beautiful home above, or parts of it, in the background of most of my photographs.  It belongs to Roy and Diane Edfast, who were already there when we moved into our home in 1977.  Roy was at Boeing and Diane at University Bookstore in a neighborhood that seemed mostly populated mostly by university professors.  When they later retired from their respective jobs,  we were fortunate to benefit from their keen interest in all of us, and their friendship as our kids grew up and new families moved into the neighborhood.  

Tomorrow evening we celebrate the Edfasts with a neighborhood party for which Leroy is cooking.  They are moving to Horizon House next month, and it is difficult for any of us to say how much we will miss them.  There is one bright note here in the change that is taking place.  Their daughter,  Annie, has purchased the home. 

Having found them as friends 36 years ago, we look forward to continuing that friendship over neighborhood events like Jo's "First Fridays," or the annual block party, and our own holiday open house.

A month later.

The single tree that survived at Ground Zero.  "Hope springs eternal."

They've installed the top of Freedom Tower on the site of the old World Trade Center.

Legislation to provide better for background checks on guns has failed once again.

There have been two tragic factory fires in Bangladesh.

Suicide bombs continue to go off in the Mideast, reminding us of events in Boston a month ago.

A passionate teacher and mover/shaker in theater has died, and we are mindful of the impact of that loss on ourselves and his students.

  
Yet small incremental changes take place.

A crosswalk has been installed in front of Eckstein Middle School.

Roosevelt Jazz Band takes third place at the Essentially Ellington competition in New York City.

My garden begins to bloom.

I find new flowers for the pots on my front steps and in the garden.  Planting them last Friday reminds me that almost everything has a time and a place, and that we repeat ourselves endlessly when we love what we do.

 And there is always room for improvement.