funny how words trigger thoughts…………………….at least they do for me

i had this vintage flannel shirt, from the fifties……………………..it was gray and light pink, almost a rose color, on an off- white background                      think i found it at a thrift store, really thought it was unusual and cool…………………. had a friend and she liked it too, and said so if she saw me wearing it

anyway, I shrunk it by drying it to long  and at to high a temperature/ my wife is adamant about doing the laundry………..can’t imagine why…..    so i gave to my friend……………………………our paths didn’t cross for a month or so and we saw each other at a concert and she was wearing the shirt, minus the sleeves

she walked over and we hugged and she said,” well what do you think?”  modeling the shirt………………………….me being the natural diplomat with the tact of a porcupine, i said ” what’ya do with the sleeves”

she said they were too long and she made a few modifications       i said she looked cute, and she ran off to catch up with her group

i was kinda miffed……………………………….

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years later, i mean 10 years later, we ran into each other at a mall and we exchanged pleasantries and she said ” i’m glad we ran into each other, something has been on my mind all these years, if you have a minute, i’d like to talk to you about it”

we sat on a bench and she said, “about the shirt”                 i started turning red and she said, “look at you after all this time”        we both laughed            ” you were still attached to that shirt when you gave it to me and you still are today”

she had me………………………”just a suggestion when you give, truly give you have to let go, or it isn’t a gift, it’s an expectation…………………………….she was right and I nodded and hugged her and said………………………………..”you  are right and i thank-you for being that good a friend to share that with me”

she smiled and walked away and I have never seen her again…………………….