Embracing Sabi

The Japanese have a word, sabi, 

which connotes the simple beauty

of worn and imperfect and

impermanent things; a weathered

fence; an old cracking bough in

a tree; a silver bowl mottled with

tarnish; the fine color of rust.

~ The Fine Color of Rust

P.A. O'Reilly

I have always been drawn

to things with history, patina or

age.  Flea markets, antique

malls, thrift stores or vintage

shops always put a spring in

my step and make my pulse

race as I cross their thresholds.

via Instagram....privetandholly

Over the weekend, we had the

pleasure of hosting one of my

oldest and dearest friends, 

Fiona and her 11 year old girl, 

Bella, my God daughter.

Fiona and I have known each

other for 25 years.  We worked

together in a Chicago bank, where

I was a newbie in the investments

area and she was a college intern.

We have championed each other

through sunshine and shadows, even

after my little family moved away.

Like me {and my own daughter},

Fiona and Isabella love to hunt for

treasures.  A good part of their

three days here was spent in the

car as we traversed country and

suburbia, hitting all the best places

to uncover new finds.

Our third musketeer from those days

together at the bank, Kathleen, 

has started chemo and could not 

travel.  She loves to junk, so we

chose some unique finds that will

soon be in her hands.

On Sunday evening, Fiona and I

 designed necklaces for us all to wear, 

using vintage components, in 

solidarity

with our sweet friend as she once 

again travels this difficult journey. 

via Instagram
{241 = Two friends supporting one}

After squinting at jump rings and

lobster claws, jewelry pliers in hand,

our creations were finished.  Snapping

a picture for Instagram,  I said on 

a whim, 

Let's take one of us.

via Instagram

Looking at this image, it occurs

to me, that we are now both sabi, 

as we have acquired 

history, 

patina 

and age : )

And this is the thing:

We like it.

We like the comfortable feeling

of being inside our own skin.

We like not worrying about what

others think of us.

We like having friends who knew

us then....and still love us, now.

It's freeing.

We are sabi women, imperfect,

weathered, but embracing this 

beautiful life that is still spread 

before us like a gift.

Such a gift.

xo

Suzanne

{Dedicated to 
Frank N. }