Another good friend turned eighty four days before my birthday. Over the years, we'd wish each other happy birthday because the dates are close together.
Doug Burton owns Burton Jewelers in Anacortes. His father established it when he was a child, and he is about to hand it to his own son, Phillip. Doug and his wife Laura were two of the first people I met when my family moved to Anacortes in 1968. I was just 12 years old that summer, and was sorely missing my friends in California. I wandered around exploring the small town, and Burton Jewelers was stocked with lots of interesting things. Not just jewelry, but fine porcelain, crystal, sculpture, and art glass from all over the world.
Doug's wife, Laura, made me feel welcome, and I spent quite a bit of time with her. She took treasures out of the safe and let me handle them. Gems of all colors, species and sizes... she and Doug told me about the facts and qualities and characteristics of each piece. Laura told me about all the places in the world they traveled to find and purchase the very special items. Blown glass from Venice, Italy and crystal vases from Poland. Baccarat sculpture they bought at the source in France.
Ooh. Ahhh. See and touch and share stories. I'd forget about homesickness for awhile.
I've checked in with the Burtons over the years since then. Forty years have gone by, and I watched their son, Phillip, get his education then return to learn the business. We watched with great sadness when Laura became ill with cancer and faded before our eyes about four years ago. I gave her a book when she couldn't work any more, one I put alot of thought into and hoped she'd enjoy. I inscribed it with a note of thanks for a friendship that made a difference in my life.
Phillip gave an after-hours party for his dad in the store. I got an invitation, and meant to attend. It was promised that the first certain number of attendees would receive an envelope with a gem in it, one of which would be a 1/2 carat diamond. Quite the party favor! That sounded like it would generate quite a crowd, so I came by an hour early with a card and a bottle of wine. Doug loves fine wine among the other finer things. Thinking I'd be able to bestow the honor and avoid the crowd, I left the gift with Pam. He probably wouldn't know if I was at the party or not.
Today I received a card from him: "I'm glad you could make it to the party, and I'm glad I'm here at eighty, but I'm sorry that Laura wasn't here to share the joy... enclosed is a verse I wrote on my birthday."
On Being Eighty
The evening of my life has come
but my work is not done
For I still have work to do I feel
and still much to learn
Bright morning is long past
and those who nurtured me are gone
High noon came into my life with joy
and I began a long romance
As the zenith became more mellow
we learned of strength and weakness
But love surmounted all in a golden afternoon
as the shadows lengthened
So now comes evening, my favorite time of day
and let me still sing praises to the
Lord of it all.
Douglas Burton
12 November 2009
