Obviously the limited avenues and gathering places for celebration have in a way opened other vistas of possibility when it comes to marking those important dates. This morning I met my friend Maya who is today 50 years old. What an achievement. So instead of our usual lunch and chat we walked up through the pheonix park. We were met by abundant growth of Alexanders whose green growth is dismissing the Winter protocol of going inwards and taking this time to grow. Onwards up a hill where two stags were resting in the growth. They observed us with their cool detached knowing eyes.
We walked on for what seemed like hours and in this time we chatted and laughed and caught up with all the things that needed to be caught up with. We put lots to right and unrolled some old favourites which over the years have given much to both of us in the way of ruminating. We talk of everything from TV to feminism and anthropology all the time basking in the clear cold November sunlight.
Coffee and cake and more chats by the river then a final stretch through the grounds of IMMA. All in all over the two hours perhaps the conversation was probably no different to the one we would have if we sat in a cafe but somehow the cold fresh air and the sunshine made it feel like I was soaking up some sort of tonic for the soul. Friendship can do this and apparently a long chat with a friend is similar to being hugged by one, releasing similar hormones in the brain etc. but the combination of both felt like a holiday.