My best friend wasn't supposed to be back until April; she was wintering in Istanbul, visiting her aging mother and her older sisters.  I had already prepared myself mentally to spend a Montréal winter without her and the spontaneous, crazy things we do together.  Well, not so crazy, but spontaneous, for sure !   We have known each other for thirty years since we met at a painting class offered in French.  Neither knew the other was Turkish, but from her accent I sensed she wasn't a native speaker of French.

(My best friend away from her worries for a while 02-20-10) 

Last Monday when I picked up the phone and heard her voice, I had a foreboding feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Did her 89 year old mom pass away?  Was something wrong back home here?

Her husband who is an architect builder had had an accident.  He had cut off his left hand on a power tool and was rushed to the hospital.  She flew beck the next day devastated and in shock.  I was speechless. 

This is supposed to be a good news piece, so I'll skip all the gory details.  The good news is that his severed hands was successfully reattached at the trauma hospital after a six hour operation; and yesterday he came home.  He is taking heavy pain killers and a number of medications, but the prognosis is good. 

I have been with my friend every day, because I know what it is like to be lost a little puppy, or to have  one's entire world shattered unexpectedly - in a second.  I was that puppy two winters ago, and it was she who took me in and kept me alive and on my feet then.

I am so grateful that I can be there to help and stand by her when she needs a loving friend.  I took her out yesterday for a bit of fresh air, and a change of pace to get her mind off the dark clouds she's been under.  Her husband was being looked after by her son and daughter-in-law.    

We went to our beloved Atwater Market for a stroll among flowers, chat with my friendly merchand friends and enjoy a frothy cappuchino.  By the end of the day, she was feeling so much better and laughing for the first time in almost a week.  That's where we met Mr Buttons.  I asked permission if I could take his picture.  Permission was granted.  Apparently, Mr Buttons is  a ham and loves to pose for photos.  So, on this good news Sunday, I'd like to share some of the beautiful flowers my Friend and I enjoyed, and introduce  to you dear little Mr Buttons. 

Mr Buttons - isn't he simply adorable ?

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Füsun Atalay - 2010