Friendship Rocks

Whether walking along the beach in New Zealand

Or California

Or hiking up a creek on a one-day adventure in Arizona

Or at the abandoned wasteland of Death Valley

My husband looks for a rock

A special rock

Not just any rock.

But a rock with a hole in it.

A friendship rock.

And he gives it to me.

It's a rock that can be tied with a string

And worn around the neck

As a symbol of camaraderie

of closeness

of happy moments.

Now I've worn very few of these rocks as jewelry

And if so, for only a short time in a photo op

But in this whimsical childhood tradition

I find laughter

And promise

Remembrance

And love.

Because although it is never spoken,

I see it is his eyes

And in a simple gift

of a friendship rock -

"I'm thinking of you on this adventure."

I wrote this about a year ago as a Facebook note, but wanted to post it again. On our family's vacation last week, Kevin presented me with another friendship rock as we walked along Carlsbad State Beach in California. I love this man!