I was sitting alone the other day when I began to think of life many years ago. I thought of mum and home and a life of liquorice allsorts moments and then I thought of mum's friend up the road. I remembered the moments where I would babysit or just sit and drink homemade ice-coffee at the kitchen table with my mum and her friend. She became my friend.

She is still there, still in that house up the road from where my mum lived. I miss my friend and though we rarely connect now I hold her forever in my heart. I feel the sadness in the house now but there is still that love and I honor and thank my friend for the hours at her kitchen table sharing coffee, tea and home made cookies. My friend, you taught me much but most of all you showed me how much difference a word of compassion can make to both those who receive and those who offer it.