‘Member how I used to meet my friend Jane every month for coffee and lunch? And then, last October, she passed away, like, SUDDENLY? Well, I don’t moan on about it, but I miss her like stink.
This month, I drove over to Vint (owned by Heine Brothers), where we met for coffee.
There’s an odd li’l light for Joey.
When I came through this door, there should be a Jane just standing up at that empty table.
I found a table back by the counter instead, one with only one chair, got my coffee, and played word games for a while. Jane had a stellar vocabulary. We enjoyed not needing to limit ourselves to the same 400 words.
And then. And then.
I went to The Irish Rover, where we had come to always have lunch, although we had earlier gone a different place every month.
I believe the Rover was my first Thursday Door post, but here’s a better picture of the whole side. The door toward the front doesn’t open, the one in the middle, along with the bicycle, are painted on, and the one toward the back is the actual entrance.
And here’s the front. One of those green panels is a door, opening onto the dining area. Lights for Joey. 🙂
Inside, the sad turned to happy. Jane’s brother, two of her neighborhood friends, and friends of friends have begun meeting once a month in her memory, and I had been invited. There was much talk, much laughter, a tear or two, good food, and beer. Jane woulda loved it! This was my first Janie Day, but it won’t be my last.
Thursday Doors is the brain child of Norm Frampton, photographer extraordinaire. Visit his site, enjoy his photos, click on the blue frog link, and enter a world of doors.
A WRITING PROMPT BASED ON MY POST: Write about something sad that turns happy.
MA
Dan Antion
March 15, 2018 at 7:09amThose are the best doors! Anything you can do to preserve a memory of a good friend is a special thing.
Marian Allen
March 15, 2018 at 8:21amSo true. So true.
dennyho
March 15, 2018 at 9:45amGreat doors holding great memories for you.
Marian Allen
March 15, 2018 at 10:53amI was afraid I’d be helplessly weepy, but being in the middle of other people who valued my friend as much as (or, in the case of her brother, more than) I did brought joy, instead.
Norm 2.0
March 15, 2018 at 10:57amSo glad you’re able to have a few laughs and share fond memories this way. Sad turns happy isn’t always easy but it is essential for our own inner peace
janet
March 15, 2018 at 11:57amJanie Day!! What a wonderful day! (We had a rescue dog named Janie for a time, and I should have a day like this to remember her as well, not disrespect meant to your friend.) We had some coffee drinks at Heine Brothers in downtown Louisville when we were there. Good stuff. I think Janie would be happy with the way you remembered her and you’re blessed to have had a friend with whom you enjoyed so much and who leaves such a hole in your life.
janet
Marian Allen
March 15, 2018 at 12:02pmYou’re so right about my luck, janet. I treasure all the memories, but I sure wish I still had her to share them with and to make more. But I know what my mom would have said: “Want in one hand and spit in the other and see which one gets full first.” 🙂 Miss my mom, too, but I have lots of her sayings I still use. Most of Jane’s sayings, I can’t use in polite company. lol!
Gordon
March 15, 2018 at 2:01pmWonderful tribute to a friend, especially when adding doors to open your memories of her!
Marian Allen
March 15, 2018 at 2:03pm🙂
Deborah
March 15, 2018 at 9:14pmSad turns happy with fond memories is awesome!!!
Marian Allen
March 16, 2018 at 8:35amI was alive with happiness. 🙂
John Holton
March 15, 2018 at 9:20pmPeople you love don’t die. They might not be there physically, but their spirit lives on. When you got together with other friends and family, she was there in everyone that was there. I think that’s what they mean by “eternal life.”
Marian Allen
March 16, 2018 at 8:36amI like that thought, John. But it took a whole tableful of us to begin to approximate her presence. 🙂
joey
March 17, 2018 at 10:40pmI love the way people are ready to gather in her memory. That’s special. I almost cried at the empty table where she should be. Dang. Anyway, a great way to remember her, taking Janie Days.
That first odd lil light seems to belong on a ship! I certainly appreciate you appreciating my appreciation of light fixtures 😀
The Rover looks like a cool place.
Marian Allen
March 18, 2018 at 7:51amThe Rover is an awesome place! As one of her neighbor friends said, “Her personality was large and in charge.” A certain amount of Bossy First-Born never wore off, but she was a benevolent dictator. 🙂