the loveliest story about perfume...and the internet

You know, I met my pal Poppy a long time ago. A very long time ago.
And I met her through the internet. We were blogging regularly about our lives and would chat from time to time via email and, at some point, K had a business trip in Chicago. I figured it would be a great opportunity to meet Poppy and we arranged a coffee date not to far from my hotel. This was back in the days when we carefully guarded our identities on the internet. There was no Twitter or Instagram. Personal blogs were a thing. Anyway, I had no intention of divulging any more personal information about myself than was necessary over coffee.
I agonized about what to wear and went.
And I, basically, fell in love with her.
And then I fell in love with my other Chicago-based crowd.
I'd go once or twice a year based on airfare and party schedules and we'd all sit around Poppy's incredible apartment and stare at the views and eat Thai food late at night and talktalktalk and have the most extraordinary time.
The last time I was in Chicago, in May, someone said: Why do you suppose we get along so well? How is it that we can be apart for long stretches of time and fall back into step so easily? 
I think I shouted something like: We accept each other unconditionally! And we understand that each of us has flaws and problems but, in these rooms, together, none of that matters!
Heavy stuff.
On a lighter note: each time I visited Poppy's apartment, as we all dressed to go out, I would sneak into her room and spritz myself with this scent -




She had a nice-sized bottle of it and it lasted beautifully on my skin. And it's lavender, my all-time favorite scent. But it's more sophisticated than wearing essential oil as it is mixed with other wonderful ingredients. (Which Poppy could, undoubtedly, tell you all about as she is practically a chemist when it comes to cosmetics and skin care and scents.)

There was a time in the dead of summer some years ago when Poppy and Angie and Wendy and Jen all came to my house to stay. I put Youngest out of his room and made a guest room and had them all for a visit. Poppy brought me that bottle of perfume. She gave it to me! I was very excited. It was the kind of generous gesture that cannot be matched. Poppy is, in fact, wonderfully generous in many ways.

That was some time ago, as I've said.
That bottle of perfume is nearly fumes at this point. I hopped on to eBay last week to see what was available (it is discontinued) but the prices were pretty steep.
I mentioned it in a post a few days ago and was hoping someone would recommend something comparable. Something lavender-y but more complex.

Instead, I was treated to the sort of responses I've always found at the heart of the internet...my pal Scot, who's been under the weather but who I know we all fondly remember for filling my comment box with all manner of snappy notes, sent a link for replacing my perfume.  And Judith, who has read me for a long time and just missed meeting me in Germany found another source, offered to order the scent and even bring it to me in Germany or send it to my hotel!
(Judith, why do I not seem to have an address for you?)

And, just while I was falling asleep last night, trying to figure out the logistics of both meeting Judith in Germany and buying my favorite fragrance another of my internet friends emailed me.
Apparently, she has found a bottle, purchased a bottle, and will send it...though I'd love for her to bring it when she visits this fall.

So, I ask you: are these not the kindest kind of friends?