When I met Abbey Newman at Weight Watchers several years ago and she invited me to go to lunch with her, I never dreamt we would become such good friends. We met at Weight Watchers each week and got into the habit of having lunch after the meeting at Subway.

It was not long until we were going shopping together after lunch. Soon we were eating the Weight Watcher’s fare at Applebee’s in Richmond...then at Olive Garden in Lexington where we shopped at the malls.

The word “friend” is often used lightly, and when we call someone a friend we seldom ever think they will always be there if and when we need them. But Abbey has been the most unforgettable friend through thick and thin, year after year.

First, I asked if she knew someone who could stain my deck, not expecting that she would volunteer to do it with her significant other, Ron Newman. Jeff and I quit trying to climb and paint the house a few years ago and we expect to hire someone to do odd jobs.

After they stained the deck, they volunteered to paint the whole lower level of our house, including the inside and outside of he cabinets.

Abbey and I have traveled together quite a bit, to such places as Panama Beach, San Francisco, Chincoteague Island, Virginia, as well as Nashville. If we don’t fly, she does the driving since she is about the age of my son and daughter. I suppose she thinks I do enough driving as a Laurel county school bus driver.

Abbey and Ron have painted most of our house to include the living room, hallway, stairwell, den and bathroom. They did a better job than most painters we have hired in the past. Abbey even volunteered to go to Nashville with me and paint my son Dana’s whole condo.

They have volunteered to cut our grass many times, and Ron has worked on the riding lawnmower when it would brake down. They work on our flowerbeds and pull weeds. Abbey shares her flowers with me. She planted a patio peach tree for us.

Ron has replaced the kitchen faucet for us and has worked on the plumbing. It seems he and Abbey both know how to do just about anything around a house. We really appreciate all that they have done for us since all of our children have moved away.

I told them we would just adopt them and call them our children. Abbey has been to a few family get-togethers with us and to the hospital when Jeff had heart surgery.

My cat Diamond loves Abbey, but when I go on trips and Abbey agrees to come and feed her... she hides. Abbey can tell she is eating because her food and water bowls are usually empty when she comes back — and her treats are gone too. Abbey does not want me to put Diamond in a kennel because she gets so traumatised. (Abbey is an animal lover... she rescues every cat and dog that is dropped on the road by her house).

Abbey goes way beyond what is expected of a friend. Her family lives in Arkansas and she is like us; she has no family living here. But I would suspect that she is just naturally a loyal, loving person to all her friends.

Abbey invited us to her house for Christmas dinner... and by the way, she is an excellent cook — candy, cookies and all, which she bring us on special occasions.

Since we met Abbey, she has sent us a greeting card for every occasion. She brings us a gift for every occasion. She always brings us a souvenir when she travels.

I say all of this to express appreciation for the most thoughtful friends Jeff and I have ever had.

I say she is an “unforgettable” friend. I think of her when I go to bed; I think of her when I brush my teeth; I think of her many times when I get dressed to go somewhere.. And you might ask “WHY?”

When I get ready to go to bed, I put on pajamas that Abbey bought for me, as well as the pillows on my waterbed. When I brush my teeth, I put my toothbrush in a self-cleaning toothbrush holder that was a present from Abbey. When I get dressed to go somewhere, I put on my watch that was a present from Abbey... and my blazer that was a gift from Abbey...as well as my jacket, blouse, and my purse.

When my husband Jeff puts on his diabetic socks... they are gifts from Abbey. When he puts on his pajamas, they are gifts from Abbey. Or books to read.

Abbey and Ron grow a beautiful garden and they share the food with their friends. When we sit down to eat our dinner, we often eat sweet potatoes, green beans, or tomatoes from our unforgettable friends. They bring us delicious onions and greens or apples and peaches.

I cannot say enough about how much we appreciate our unforgettable friends. Although we have lived here for over 40 years and have some dear friends... growing older and lonelier every year, we have not made that many up-close and personal, CLOSE, bosom-buddy friends who have the time or the energy to spend on us, or the wherewithal.

We are so blessed!

Thanks, Abbey and Ron.

God bless.....

Shirley Caudill of London is a former newspaper editor/publisher and longtime freelance columnist. She is a Nashville native who has lived in Kentucky 40 years. She has six children, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and is married to a retired Army First Sergeant. She can be reached at gunnstar4912@gmail.com