Faye, My Amazing Friend!

I received the following email September 22, 2023 and will never be the same (in a fabulous way).

Hi my darling friend and sister,

Yesterday I celebrated the anniversary of my first day working with a wonderful employer and a group of lovely ladies, several of whom have become very close friends. 

If I was to select a highlight of the past year then it would be the invitation to tender my CV for the position of recreational manager. It was a position that I had previous experience in, though in a voluntary capacity. My references were drawn from my church work and my work within the local library. My employer for over 30 years refused to give a reference because they were not aware of having employed a Faye Roberts, this was despite them being aware of my now chosen name, I suppose you cannot win them all!!!

The outcome was that the seven other applicants and myself attended three interviews until only myself and two other women reached the final stage. Throughout the previous interviews there had been much wishing of “May the best woman win” as we all sat waiting to go in for a one to one interview with the care home management, on this day the silence was deafening and we all three took a seat a distance from each other. We smiled in recognition and apart from an initial checking of each other’s outfits we sat waiting to be beckoned to the interview room.

I was the second to be called and after 45 minutes it was over. It was a long week before I received a call that I had, on the day, been the successful applicant.

A fortnight later I nervously started my first day and eight hours later I left walking on cloud 9. I couldn’t honestly have been accepted as a woman if I had been born female, though I suppose technically I was in so many ways!!!

Now one year on I am thinking about the hugs I have received from the ladies I care for and their relatives, sons and daughters who have themselves told me of their appreciation. 

I am surrounded by my sisters, their daughters (I was the only male born on my maternal side of the family for many years, so read into that what you conclude 😂)

In 2017 I was close to serious depression, now in 2023 I am a confident woman working full time, running a home and with a good social life. Maybe after reading my first blog from Kandi I sensed a better life could be out there, so I volunteered, the church, art centre, theatre (sound familiar Kandi?).  I send many hugs of love and appreciation to you, not only as a friend, but as both a sister and a woman.

Thank you, thank you. 

Hopefully your still awake after reading my ramblings 😂😂

Your sister,

Faye

My response…..

Faye,

Excuse me, let me wipe away the literal tears of joy!  And BTW, I rarely cry, although I wish I could do so more often. 

Wow, you are one amazing lady!  And to think I had one percent of one percent of one percent to do with your happiness!  If I never do anything again in my life, this validates everything I believe.  We are separated by an ocean and a few time zones, but we will forever be sisters.  I am beaming with pride in what you have accomplished.

We will never meet, but I love you more than you can imagine.  I can envision getting together for tea, both of us in our Easter-best, gorgeous hats, everyone looking at us with envy.

Thank you so much for this tremendously uplifting message.

God bless you; He has blessed me with our friendship.

An awestruck Kandi

Whatever you may think about me, whatever this place means to you, whatever your worries or fears are, we have a bond unlike anything else (outside of those that actually risk their lives to help or protect others) that exists.

Keep the community going! Let’s build something amazing! Conversations are underway to make some changes here, evolve the blog into a more communal place. I have no expectations to “profit” from the blog. I want to simply break even as there are real out-of-pocket costs I incur. My time….meaningless. So I will seek to streamline things, eliminate whatever ads I can afford and maybe boost the shopping links. The shopping links are less invasive, but some form of revenue is necessary to keep Kandi’s Land moving forward.