Hi!

Sorry I haven’t written to you for a couple of months, but this summer was particularly chaotic, what with a family reunion, camp for the kids, an impossible business schedule and a husband who needs more attention than my baby. Whatever happened to male bonding?

You will be happy to know that all my relatives were raving about you.

Most of them live in Canada’s major markets and are fortunate enough to be in the mid- to upper-income bracket. Although I am not sure this is doing them or me any good these days. I think we are all tired of the predictable political merry-go-round. Much like you, we want a better Canada.

I was reminiscing the other day and I realized that we’ve been friends for 27 years. Where has the time gone?

I was 15 years old when my mom first introduced us. She was so excited when you arrived at our home. She spent hours with you going over her favorite recipes, swapping coupons and comparing shopping lists – the typical pastime for the June Cleaver-type mom of the ’60s. My, how times have changed.

As your visits became more frequent, I learned you had more to offer than 365 ways to prepare casserole.

You were different from the others. You always had that special quality which made you stand out from the crowd.

While others were discussing how to make quilts or centrepieces from tennis balls, you were on the leading edge, promoting issues of importance to women, their families and their communities.

In the ’70s, you motivated me to become involved in Block Parent and Neighbourhood Watch programs in order to make city streets safer for our children.

Here we are in the ’90s tackling violence against women, helping to create new anti-stalking legislation and starting new School Watch programs.

Over the years, you have shared my fears and anxieties about the quality of our educational system, the teenage drug dilemma, gun control, the environment and child abuse.

You have helped me cope in my many roles as career woman, wife and mother. You have always been there for me when I needed you, providing relevant and sound advice.

Because of you, I have become better informed about world issues.

I still cannot believe that you ventured to the Persian Gulf, Somalia (with those gun-crazy warlords) and the former Yugoslavia. But, somehow, I have come to expect this from you. When you talk to me, I listen and I respond.

Now, I don’t want you to think that I only rely on you to nurture my beliefs and my values. Trust me, I need all the practical advice you can give me when it comes to food, fashion, health and beauty.

I love to cook, and you always provide me with recipes that are foolproof. I particularly like the Menu of the Month, where you plan the whole meal for me and I don’t have to do a lot of thinking. The nutritional notes at the end of each recipe are much appreciated.

Like you, I am concerned about my family’s health as well as my own. Besides, I hate dieting. In case you are wondering, I use all those great coupons you give me.

I am so glad you are strong enough to hold your own against those who dismiss fashion and beauty as fluff.

I thoroughly enjoy indulging with you in the latest cosmetics and all the hottest fashion trends. I agree with you that all women want to look and feel great. What’s wrong with that? Have you ever met a woman who wanted to look ugly and feel lousy?

You have worked harder than anyone in establishing credibility on serious issues and there is nothing wrong with having a little fun at the end of the day.

Wanting to look good, and being educated and bright are not mutually exclusive. Besides, we all have bad hair days.

Throughout our friendship you have been my mentor, advisor, therapist and conscience. You have seen me through the difficult times and shared in the good ones.

Sometimes it saddens me to realize that I have outgrown many of my other friends. But I guess that’s life. The fact that we have kept pace with each other for so many years makes me really appreciate the friendship that we have.

Thank you for all the thought you have put into our relationship. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your friend,

Jane

Lilia Lozinski is vice-president and publisher of Homemaker’s Magazine, a Telemedia Communications publication.