Waiting on a Friend
The People Who Show Up
I’ve been thinking lately about the people we call without having to think twice. The ones we can talk to about absolutely nothing for an hour, but who are also there when something is really wrong.
October’s Landslide was about looking back at the hard things we’ve lived through and seeing how they made us stronger. November continues that story by recognizing the people who helped us through those times.
We may be the ones doing the work, making the changes, and putting our lives back together, but that doesn’t mean we do it alone. Other people listen to us, check in, make us laugh, and remind us that we’re going to be okay. Sometimes they don’t do anything other than sit beside us, and that can be enough.
That’s why I chose Waiting on a Friend by The Rolling Stones for November’s Full Spectrum Yarn Club.
I like how relaxed and familiar the song feels. It reminds me of meeting someone who already knows you and picking up right where you left off. There’s no pressure to explain where you’ve been or why it’s been so long. You’re simply happy to see each other again.
When I say “friend,” I don’t only mean a platonic friendship. That person could be a close friend, a husband or wife, a partner, or someone else we love. Sometimes the person we share our life with is also our closest friend.
The People Who Become Part of Our Lives
Some people have known us through almost every stage of our lives. They remember who we were before we became who we are now. Others show up later and somehow feel like they’ve always been there.
These relationships are usually built through ordinary moments. Phone calls. Shared meals. Inside jokes that make no sense to anyone else. Conversations that start with one small thing and end two hours later. None of it seems important at the time, but those moments slowly become a life we’ve shared with another person.
I think we sometimes forget to tell these people what they mean to us because their place in our lives feels so steady. We assume they already know. We think there will always be another phone call, another visit, or another chance to say it.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also learned that being strong doesn’t mean handling everything by myself. I’m not always good at asking for help, and I know I’m not alone in that. Letting someone see that we’re struggling can be difficult, but it doesn’t make us weak. Sometimes making the call and allowing someone to be there is the strong thing to do.
November naturally makes us think about gratitude, but I didn’t want this month to become a traditional Thanksgiving story. It’s simply about noticing the people who continue to show up and being thankful they’re part of our lives.
The Color Story
When I started putting this mood board together, I knew I wanted pink to be the main focus. I kept coming back to the microphone, the crowd, and that glowing window because of the hot pink and magenta lighting.
The microphone and crowd connect directly to the music and the energy of seeing a band perform live. I also love the way a concert can bring people together. Everyone may walk into the room with a different story, but for a little while, they’re all sharing the same experience.
The deep red brings a small piece of October into the palette, while the amethyst adds depth. I also liked how those colors looked across the leaves and metallic fabric. The light changes them and brings out something different in every image.
October was filled with strong reds. November carries some of that red forward, but moves into a much brighter, pinker part of the spectrum.
October was about finding our strength again. November is about remembering the people who helped us find it.
If someone came to mind while you were reading this, let them know. We often think the people closest to us already know what they mean to us, but it’s still nice to hear it. I know I could do a better job of saying it, too.
Ross 💗