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Circle of Friends, Family, Journaling, Memories & Reflections, Poetry, Uncategorized, Writing Prompts
This is in response to Raili’s Circle of Friends challenge over at soulgifts — Telling Tales. I’m not quite sure what she meant by the word “absent,” but if being separated by half a world means absent, then this is about my Absent Friend…
`
The first time I met her I thought for sure she was an honest to goodness elf! Small, with long blonde hair, and ears that kind of peeked through the sides of it, she was very dainty, and just exuded “otherworldliness.” I was standing at the gate at the airport watching for her and I swear she just appeared out of thin air and gobbled me up in a BIG hug.
I’d met her on a Tolkien forum called LEAF (Learning Elvish Among Friends) the end of 2001. It was my first time venturing out into the internet world and it felt exactly the same as if I were standing in a room full of people I didn’t know. I finally got up the nerve to post a comment on something and I waited. And I waited. I felt so exposed standing in the middle of that “room.” Then all of a sudden an elf named Arnatarien (later to morph into Iluviel) came to my rescue and we started commenting back and forth. For years!
Kim came to stay with us from Australia the first time in 2003. That girl really took me in hand. I was pretty bloomin’ insecure, and she was bound and determined to pull me out of myself. Everywhere she went magic seemed to float around her. She WAS an elf, after all. 😀
The week she stayed with us was such a joy. She had already sent me a lovely crushed-velvet, emerald green cape because all elves needed a cape. 🙂 She helped me identify Calensariel’s character when Calen became my alter ego. She taught me some of Tolkien’s Quenya — the language the elves spoke. And when she got here she was toting a suitcase full of frilly, feminine clothes for me. I was floored. I was am a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal, and boy did I feel like a cumquat in some of those outfits! But she badgered the hell out of me until I finally tried them all on for her and allowed my “feminine side” to start peeking out. (She and I have made friends, of a sort, after all these years. I let her come out and get dressed up every now and then..😉 )
Somehow Kim’s visit (and a 10-day visit two years later) changed me fundamentally. Drollery will tell you I am NOT the same person I was before I met her. In a very real sense she introduced me to myself. Lordy what a shock that was! I haven’t seen Kim since 2005, but we Skype and email and talk on the phone. We know each other’s family goin’s on. She knows enough about me to blackmail me! The Tolkien websites started to fade away after the hoopla over the movies died down, but our friendship never did.
She has been one busy woman since then! She is now Dr. Kim Coull, psychologist. I must admit she did a lot of practicing on me! If I had to pick one person in this world who made the most difference in my life, it would be Kim. She made a difference in my life because she made me see, finally, that Calen wasn’t just a made-up character on a website, she really is a part of me. Kim introduced me to a whole new me I didn’t know existed. She knew my heart was very divided in regards to myself. I didn’t know that until I met her.
This is from the end of a poem she wrote to me from my Soul. It’s called “The Lady Calensariel.” It made me feel very special, like I had some value after all. It took her a hell of a long time to convince me of that…
`
In arbour blessed
and love’s true rest
her soul will find its way,
the stranger deep
within her heart
becomes Love’s fragrant lay.
And as she wanders
through her tears
who is this by her near?
It is the I of heart and soul,
the One so ever dear.
Fear not the whisper
on the wind,
I never left your side.
I am All you seek
I am Beauty’s Song
that with you will abide.
The cradle bare,
the arbour gone,
all kept within my heart;
the path is clear
I have lead you here
and we will never part.
`
`
Picture Credits:
elves — disqus.com
Kim — from her daughter’s wedding
Calen’s avatar — a gift from another friend, Inwiel
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Jay said:
I think the internet is kind of magical when it can give birth to friendships like that.
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calensariel said:
LOL Yeah, magical is one word for it. Other times I might say diabolical? 😉 (It makes me cuss!)
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Soul Gifts said:
Well, you’ve done good again! Absent is as absent does in your mind. Whether here or beyond. She sounds like an amazing friend. Isn’t it wonderful to be blessed with a special elf like Kim 🙂 AND she’s an Aussie elf at that !
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calensariel said:
Yes, it sure is. I’m beginning to find there’s a little bit of “elf” in a LOT of my friends — Raili! 😀
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Soul Gifts said:
silverthreading has a quiz on her blog to find out what kind of a fairy you are. I sit on a rainbow 🙂 I like the sound of that !!
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calensariel said:
Oh my! Does it get all over your britches? 😉
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spiritualdragonfly said:
Beautiful poem….and story of your friendship!
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calensariel said:
Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever see her again, you know what I mean? They want us to come for a visit. Maybe after Drollery retires. Just not sure about the l-o-n-g plane flight…
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spiritualdragonfly said:
Never say Never!!!
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Kim Echammaal Coull said:
That would be a dream come true to see you both here! Oh Calensariel…that was so so beautiful to read. Tears in my eyes here. You have given so much to me too you know…in my darkest hours you cradled me and held me so near and made me feel special and loved in a way that no other woman ever had…I know you were sent to me as a gift and you are the most special and unexpected treasure in my life. Thank you so much for thinking of me and I am so sorry I missed your post. Thank you for embracing me dearest Calensariel all these years, I love you so much…and the “I” of that poem is you (just to clarify!)…you are more beautiful than you can ever know (and definitely the lady in the Strength Card – I just read that wonderful chapter in your story…)…thank you again for coming into my life. You will forever be in my heart.
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calensariel said:
Cormamin lindua ele lle! It was so good to catch up with you tonight! What a treat. So do we have a date for 2020 then? 🙂
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platosgroove said:
I remember meeting her. She blessed me too. Send my love and gratefulness if you would mylady.
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calensariel said:
Will be glad to. I keep wondering if the two of you will turn up on the journey in some form. I’m not sure what that would look like, but I’ll be curious to see. 🙂 I’ve been blessed to have BOTH a Queen and a King. 😉
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platosgroove said:
I’m the jester and kim would be happy to be the trusted soul friend to the queen. You are the queen you tard :). That’s what we have been telling you
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calensariel said:
LOL! Well what can I say? I’m a s-l-o-w learner. But the two of you have been admirable instructors. 😉 But, my fine friend, you are more than likely the Magician the way you made that slingbow morph into existence! ❤
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Kim Echammaal Coull said:
PG…all hail brother…it was absolutely wonderful to meet you. Thank you so much for your kind and generous words…hope all is well. It is my plan to catch up when I can on your beautiful musings..blessed greetings this day from Calen’s arbour…
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platosgroove said:
Sweet doctor 🙂
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