Valentine's Day is coming. An important day for me. It is Jan's birthday. For close to three decades I have called Jan on her birthday, and she has called me on mine. When we were eighteen and graduated high school, she left me in Bulawayo for the big, wide world of college and the mother-land, England. When Jan came home for holidays I heard tales of exotic musicals (Hair) and the great university life. Ah, how I admired her worldliness and intelligence! She brought home "I'm leaving on a jet plane" with Peter, Paul and Mary. In those days I called her Janet.
Jan and I met in the girl's restroom at Milton High School. We were in the Sixth Form, seventeen years old and had come with a large group of sixth formers from neighboring schools to study for A-levels. I hailed from Northlea which was a co-ed school from way over in North End. Most of the students came to Milton from Townsend or Milton itself, which were all-girls, all boys. My friend probably remembers more lucidly details of the day we met in the girl's bathroom. Both suffering from stories of both our boyfriend's possessive behaviors, we bonded immediately. I could not believe that such a beautiful, talented and intelligent girl wanted to be my friend.
Jan was one of my first friends with whom I could share those important questions and discussions about sexuality, that were forbidden everywhere else. Not only that, we were die-hard liberals together, although she and her family taught me more than I had ever known about respecting other cultures. They changed my life, attitude, outlook, worldview - they taught me about compassion.
Ours is a long history, way too long for a weblog posting. Suffice it to say we have shared our loves, marriages, divorces, life and death stories. We have traveled to see each other, from one corner of the world to the other, England, Israel, Italy, America.
Jan is on my mind for Valentine's Day is coming and this year I will call her in Italy - this time, from Philadelphia. I will think of her with large lavender bushes, shouting merrily in fluent Italian to Giuseppe, "Mi amore!" with grand Alpine mountains overlooking her village nestling in the valley.
How wonderful and so lucky to have such a grand friend.
Posted by: Michal | February 10, 2005 at 04:57 PM
Hey Michali!
Wow! You sure are reading my weblog! It is always a good feeling knowing someone is out there reading my writings.
Hugs and kisses, sweetie!
Posted by: Tamar | February 10, 2005 at 05:01 PM
How about posting a picture of Jan in your Friends photo album?
Did you "do" Valentine's Day growing up in Rhodesia? I can't remember if other countries get involved in that whole Valentine's card mishegoss (which often led to hurt feelings). I know some Jews here avoid it since it is a saint's day, after all! For the first time since she started school Leah told me today that she is not interested and will not be making cards for her classmates. Good idea...
Posted by: Danny | February 10, 2005 at 06:49 PM
Danny,
Am working on acquiring a picture of Jan for my album!
I do not remember Valentine's Day when I was growing up in Rhodesia or in Israel. I have found that it can be quite sad for some people who are without a loved one on that day. Many years ago the single staff at my Center and I would go out for a beer and wings at the famous Anchor Bar in Buffalo to celebrate Valentine's Day and get over the depression about it.
Will you buy Kendall some roses?
The last time Tom sent me roses to work was some years ago. The guy delivering them had a heart attack and am accident. Someone else brought them to me a day late! We took that as a sign!
Posted by: Tamar | February 10, 2005 at 09:14 PM
tam, we are getting older! I swear I didn't abandon YOU in Bulawayo but you left me, hopping off to Israel to start that whole new life, and my first non-Australian visit was to you in Netanya at Sue's where Sheva and Michali were tiny tots and I ate yoghurt for the first time in my life (1968. I arrived there with Beryl and Josh, thereby hangs many a tale!)
Thankyou for the 'beautiful, clever' bit - as usual I can't remember the third word, being too embarrassed to listen to compliments, which obviously can't be true! I didn't FEEL all those things, but I do remember insisting that all the young men I met on holiday should send Valentine cards for my 16th birthday (I'm always behind you, in age, now in degrees, certainly in boldness, which is one of the many reasons I love you!) So now I will bask in the memory of having been beautiful and clever for you, and so I will be! And on my birthday I am teaching all day and maybe going out to eat with 'mio amore Giuseppe' so if you don't catch me, don't worry, because at least we have a blog to blog it all. I have just finished reading 'Not in our name' (by David Potorti in Italian) The book was sold to me by a Senegalese who lives in Milan and comes from a group of Muslims whose aim is to educate the Italians, mostly with African literature. Isn't that in itself a sign of great hope?? HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to you all!!
Posted by: Jan Delacourt | February 11, 2005 at 05:10 AM
Dearest Jan - how good to hear from you, dear friend! Now then - by now, everyone wants to see a picture of you...!
I will be calling nevertheless. I love the sound of your voice!
Michal, what a lovely story about Moses and the shoes! It answers Danny's posting about religion and Valentine's Day, for Moses is, indeed Muslim.
Posted by: Tamar | February 11, 2005 at 05:16 AM
Michal, I see that some of my postings are bringing up memories for you too. Thanks for sharing them with me/us.
Am touched that you are "falling in love" with my blog. Do you think Valentine's Day is rubbing off on you?
Smiles.
Posted by: Tamar | February 12, 2005 at 09:02 AM