Today in the mail I received a gift from one of my very
favorite Physical Therapists in the burn center, Deb.
She sent me a gorgeous copy of the book
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco
with this part underlined in the book:
“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse.
'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long,
long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'
'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.
'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.
'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.'
'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up',
he asked, 'or bit by bit?'
'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse.
'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to
people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off,
and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.
But these things don't matter at all, because once you are
Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”
I was brought to tears, and then couldn't stop.
My heart burst with gratitude for the words,
and for my loyal friend Deb in Arizona.
Deb ALWAYS believed in me and my healing.
Deb worked so hard to get me better.
I don't think about my recovery without thinking about her.
Last month she came to North Carolina to visit a friend
and we met up for lunch.
I brought Claire and Jane along since we all just adore Deb!
Deb, thank you for knowing what real is;
real love, real beauty, real change, and real friendship.
