Līgo Haibun Challenge – Für Elisa

There are two proverbs to choose from for this week’ s Līgo Haibun Challenge:
It is not enough to know how to ride – you must also know how to fall. – Mexican Proverb
or
It is solved by walking. – Algerian Proverb
For a while I couldn’ t see too clearly where any of these prompts could take me until I received a message on my mobile this morning: “Thank you for yesterday – you charged my batteries of joy but I don’ t think they will last till January.” January is all another story but in that moment the words I wanted to say had finally found me…

I must admit we have really walked together. Quite a lot and quite…everywhere! I looked back, trying to do some maths on the walks we have shared, and the number “13” was the one that came up. 13 years. No, I won’ t say it seems like yesterday because it doesn’ t and couldn’ t anyway. It seems exactly like 13 rich and colourful years where our lives have crossed in all the possible and impossible ways.

of all the people
we had to meet
for the lone street
to enliven

Funnily enough for the first time we met on stairs, and since then… Well, it has been up, down and up again. Sometimes in circles. Or standstills. Through the seasons and countries, weddings and funerals. Dancing down the path and stumbling through the mud, celebrating tomorrows and trying to glue together todays – again, piece by piece. Pushing and pulling but not letting to fall. The roads haven’ t pampered us but then…we haven’ t been too sympathetic to them either. All those high-heels, wellies, sandals, leather boots – you name it! With conversations that hardly stopped and comfortable silences, understanding things before they were even said. Loving and hating others, while learning to appreciate ourselves. With many differences but also as many similarities. And always being there for each other, no matter what.

Walking is much more meaningful when there’ s somebody with whom you can simply be yourself. Without any need to keep up appearances or hide behind masks. Just walk through life like only friends can.

journey of life
despite the differences
friendship blossoms

Līgo Haibun Challenge