©Carla Coulson
And not just any contessa but…La Contessa! I am referring to the wonderful Elizabeth Kirkpatrick who just happens to be turning 55 today.
Isn’t she beautiful? Yes, inside and out, you will see…
I remember having a discussion – ok, let’s call it an argument – with Remi just after I had started blogging about whether these people that I was in contact with could ever actually be “real” friends. He thought certainly not and yet I was hopeful. Because, from the very beginning, I found or was found by so many fascinating people who seemed to me to be utterly genuine in their hearts.
Elizabeth was that way, immediately. She was both literally generous in all of the thoughtful gifts that she would send both Remi and I (including a pair of the shoes glimpsed in the photo above in my size because she knew how much I coveted them) but also overwhelmingly so in her spirit.
She inspires me to no end – from her gorgeous wedding in Italy to her love of a little pig named Banksy. Because she is true. In our cookie-cutter world, she knows who she is and why she is, plus it just comes naturally for her to do good when she can. I think that she said to me once something along the lines of, “Well, why wouldn’t you if you could?” That is my Contessa.
I will give you an example. There are many but here is one. Elizabeth knew that I was going through a hard time this past winter. We had been under an enormous amount of stress for so long and I just was struggling. To talk to her on the phone is always a treat – it is impossible not to be cheered by her sing-song of a voice – and I should have known that the wheels would turn after having hung up with her. For you see, she had a plan. She had already met an amazing woman, Ellie from Have Some Decorum a while back and knew that her birthday was coming up. She was worried that Ellie would not have friends from the States near her for her birthday and suggested that I go up (as by this time I was an ardent reader and so were many of you here as well). I explained that we just couldn’t afford for me to make the trip at the moment. Well, two weeks later, I opened up a card from Elizabeth only to find the cash (!) for the train ticket! I went and now consider Ellie a friend. I am very, very aware that La Contessa did this as much if not more for me than for Ellie! It worked.
One of my definitions of friendship is that I know that I could count on said person when the chips are down to be there for me. Even though we have never met in person, Elizabeth most certainly fills the bill and then some.
©Drew Wright
With her handsome husband Giampiero, they make the most out of the everyday – as you can see in this perfect portrait by photographer Drew Wright. There is no saving of “the good china” or the “fancy clothes” – I remember our bonding a long time ago because she had a magazine photographer coming over and she was wondering if she should wear her purple velvet caftan or not. She did and looked stunning! In 2013, she flew her boys to Paris in order to have the ultimate photo shoot by the fantastic Carla Coulson – one based on the iconic photographs of The Duchess of Devonshire – save that in this case, they brought the chickens into the Tuileries Garden (see first photo)!
If Elizabeth is the ONLY person that has written a guest post here, it is for a reason. I wanted for her to share a bit of her enthusiasm for life with you all, in all it’s glorious abundance.
Thank you for being you, friend.
Happy Birthday!
With much Love,
Heather
PS. To discover more of her world – or to just pop over and send some well-wishes, please go to http://thevintagecontessa.net/
Happy Birthday Elizabeth!
I feel as though I have gotten to 'know' La Contessa from the comments she has often left on your blog. . .and yes, there have been times when I didn't leave a comment because it would have been right after hers and could never match the insight and beautiful thoughts she had written. You are lucky to have met such a good friend and 'influencer' in the blogosphere. Happiest of birthdays to you, La Contessa, and thanks Heather for a beautiful tribute to friendships.
What a lovely, written from the heart, birthday tribute for a friend. I don't know Elizabeth, but she sounds like someone who lives life to the full.
I'm glad you have such a wonderful and wise friend.
Thank you for sharing the story behind your visit to Eleanor…what a wonderful convergence of generous, artistic and lovely souls! I hope that all three of you come together in person someday. I love the way the Internet enables us to connect with people whom we cannot be with in person. In decades of doing all I could to sustain long-distance relationships, however, I have never been able to approximate what it is like to actually be in another's presence, much less to share parts of daily life in person with another.
Happy Birthday to Elizabeth, whom you have brought to much fuller life for me. I have been an admirer ever since I learned that she (like I) loves to raise chickens.
Your friend Leslie in Oregon
What a beautiful post, not only are you very lucky, but so is La Contessa to have you as a friend, just beautiful 🙂
La Contessa. A true friend and a generous heart.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY La Contessa.
You are a true friend Heather!
Happy Birthday La Contessa! Enjoy many more exciting years! To your health!
Heather, what a wonderful tribute to our La Contessa.
I remember seeing a photo a few years ago of Elizabeth, I think it was one of Carla's.
Her amazing spirit and love of life shining through.
How good are her phone calls Heather and her thoughtful gifts!!!
Somehow I dont think we'll ever run out of things to talk about.
Yes, you can make friends via this medium and like you call her my friend.
I hope she is reading this today so she can see how much she means to all.
Happy Birthday Bella
The Mate from Down Under
Cheers
xx neat
Heather, the greatest "gift" of all is our ability to give … you exercised that "gift" to the highest degree with this post. Good for you and Happy Birthday to Elizabeth, who also seems to understand this truth of giving.
Mahalo et Merci for sharing your "gift" !
Bill
http://www.kauai-to-paris.com
Also, FYI, 55 is not "old" so don't understand why Elizabeth is pictured on her web site wearing at tee shirt that says "old is the new black." Just sayin'