Just Thinking About People...

I just hung up from a phone conversation with my dear confidante Martha Myers. She and I have a special relationship. She puts up with me. (LOL! Right Martha?) And I adore her at every level. Martha and her husband Gene are "gifts that music gave me."
There are lots of folks that I have "made acquaintance with" over the years in music, but there are a very few that I have been so blessed as to actually enter into REAL bona fide friendships with, from them attending my performances. I don't even keep up with how long I've known them. I just know they're vital parts of my life, as well as Marah and Wayne's.
I was thinking about friendships today and just how many people call, write or email to keep up with Frieda's progress. Many of my friends became Frieda's friends too. My friends adore her just as much as I do and are chomping at the bit to see progress
and to see Frieda be given the ability to move forward from the second stroke. We all still maintain that Frieda will surprise a lot of folks when all of this is said and done. Yes, we've hear all the rumors, all the chatter and noise about what Frieda "can't do."
Well, around here, we tend to focus on what Frieda CAN DO, given the opportunity. And she will.
Martha has sent boxes of materials to help Frieda...and there's more to come as I understand it. Donna Mooneyham has stayed in close touch, sending a beautiful card with an incredibly inspiring magnet for Frieda. Each of them work in areas of rehabilitation for a living, so they know their stuff and I am so humbled that they have shown so much care, concern and compassion.
Shelia Sammons, who works for Davis, Davis and Dodson (a company that has assisted living facilities all over the state) has been a wealth of support, love and information in terms of helping Frieda. Donna Mooneyham actually helped develop the rehabilitation center at Pitt Hospital and now teaches all over the state. Martha is working on a patent for eating utensils for challenged and disabled children and adults. We are surrounded by brilliant people and as if that weren't enough, they all are "in the field of helping those with challenges and disabilities," so they have given so freely of their hearts, their knowledge and their commitment to see Frieda get better. How blessed is Frieda Hudson to have that kind of loving, caring, HEALING energy constantly with her?
There are people that I NEVER knew existed that have come forth since July and have actually become friends. One of those is Bruce Miller. He lives in Washington, DC, happens to plan to retire in Pamlico county and is a stroke survivor. He knew NONE of us, but read my blog from a link on the Town Dock and decided to write to me. As I said, a wonderful friendship between myself, Bruce and Wayne has resulted and we think it's just incredible.
Brenda Campbell and Joyce Allen are two dear, dear friends that music gave to me. Again, I met them at shows and now we are very close personal friends. Once upon a time, my life didn't work that way. I never got to know anyone. I may have been introduced and then moved on. Oh there were folks that I kept getting "reintroduced to" thankfully and they were very important, but the folks who have actually become my friends have been just that in the truest sense of the word. They got to know Frieda, how important Frieda was to Wayne, Marah and me and they knew how much she was around here and right in the middle of anything we had going on.
I have made acquaintance with so many folks as a result of knowing Frieda. So many have contacted me and I have been able to meet a few. That has been great.
I just want you all to know that with every stumbling block, there is another opportunity to get up, get back on track and get all the focus on Frieda and her healing. With our continued prayer, we will be so thrilled to see what amazing things Frieda will have up her sleeve.
I want you all to know how much Wayne and I have appreciated the CONTINUED support. It means more to us than I am able to express. Just know we appreciate you all and love you so much.
Winston and Johanne have never failed to stop and check on things here, check on Frieda and let us know "they're just down the road." Winston always has a smile, a music story to share and never fails to see if we need anything (especially since Superman went and re-injured his leg!). Johanne ALWAYS has a hug, words of encouragement and lets me know when she's worried about us. :) We need a little "mothering" from time to time, so thanks Jo!
It's stunning when we really start to think about ALL the support that has come from so many varied walks of life...all in the name of supporting Frieda's healing.
I want you all to know that we love you, Frieda loves you and one of these days, she'll just her tell you herself!
I want to name a few names now that are so wonderful and have been right here with us, if not physically, then via thoughts, calls and emails...to let us know they care.
John and Mary Ellen Golden, Geof Morris, Buddy Tuttle, Kelly Davis and her son Jakob, Marah, my parents, Mary Day, Bill and Dee Sage, Marsha and Dave Shirk, Steve and Jody Devera, Dave and Ruth Spencer, Denny Potter, Mark Teachey, Jim Clare, Catesby Jones, Ann Ehringhaus, Mel Stanforth, Walt and Linda Pence, Mike and Cindy Cross, Al Privette, Roberta Caton, Flo Daniels, Bill Sawyer, Jr. and Kristi, "all my neighbors" out here in the wonderful place that we live...the list could go on and on.
Candy Bohmert has stuck by us no matter what. She has taken trips with me to give Frieda all the support she possibly can and I know Frieda could never say "thank you enough." Candy has been such a support for me when times have been less than desirable during Frieda's two strokes. She has been a total rock and I don't know what I would have done without her.
Please know, even if you don't see your name listed here that ALL of you who have contacted me are so vitally important to Frieda's recovery. She LOVES her friends...and she loves meeting new people. In my heart, I envision the day that Frieda herself can say "thank you" to you all.
With that, I'll close with another THANK YOU and ask that you keep in touch and KEEP PRAYING!!!
Sleep time now...so, I'm going for it! Morning comes early enough as it is!!
People talk too much and do too little anymore. Kindness and love are free. I know how busy everyone is, so it takes on special meaning when folks keep right on after this long cheering Frieda on and most importantly BELIEVING IN HER AND THE THINGS SHE IS NOW DOING...no matter how small those things might appear.
Keep those prayers headed Frieda's way. She needs them and our prayer will give her the strength and courage to push past all the barriers that currently hold her back.
Just know you too are all loved so much and deeply appreciated.
So, this is a "thank you blog." Again, I KNOW I have left names out...and don't think for one minute I've forgotten about you!! It's just late and I'm busy thanking "EVERYONE!"
We will all be so happy when we see Frieda start to shift toward getting better.
We all miss her, don't we? So, now is not the time to forget about her. We need all the prayer we can get...and from the indications of the past few months, there are a LOT of wonderful, supportive people out there. Just keep "seeing" Frieda well.
Love her, talk to her out loud, even when you're not with her. We will all be so glad we did one day!!!
Love and many blessing to you all!
Annie

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