~~Friends~~ What would we do without them!

YOUNG FRIENDS, NEW FRIENDS, OLD FRIENDS,...BEST FRIENDS!

We all need friends... young friends, old friends, work friends, play friends, fair weather friends and those sacred, forever; there for the long haul friends! The way I figure it there are two families we have in this life... the one we are born into and the one that we choose along the way! And the blessings that are there, the fun and the memories are far too long to list here! But as you read, think back... reflect on those you have called "friend"... remember?

Some came into our lives and have now gone, they were in our lives for a short while it seems, maybe teaching us some lessons and then moving on. Maybe leaving pain in the wake, but valuable lessons none the less and hopefully a memory or two worth keeping. There is merit in even the fair weather friends you know! We learn from them all! Or at least that is my experience now that I have become older, more tolerant and less of a person who wears her heart on her proverbial sleeve~~~~

But ah for the love of a good and trusted friend. My Godson D'Vante has friends that he loves that way! They are just downright silly at times. But they are works in progress you know! Sharing dreams of football and what colleges to attend, what "hot girls to take to proms", their pride of the President and his visions for the world, how to "ace" the next test!  All those important issues discussed by teens these days. But they also have a tenderness about them, mostly for each other... and frequently for their parents and other adults that is hopeful, even touching at times although often short-lived. Again, they are works in process of the Creator like all of us I guess.

But friendships can be lasting, can be rock steady not only in the fun and good times. But also during times of great heartache and profound sadness. My beloved Mother has a friend like that. She and her "best friend of a lifetime, Lavie" have had that lifetime friendship for my entire life. I grew up with them, Lavie, Jerry,with Lavie's girls babysitting me (daughter Sue and I getting in trouble too at times along the way)! They now share the sacred bond of having buried the loves of their lives, the most important men of their lives. They can cry together, and still laugh together as their memories sustain them, their connection of a lifetime allows them to share from the depths of their soul knowing there are no subjects taboo, no barriers to each others' pain and no window or door shut to the others thoughts. The power of love through friendship and "being family of choice" has made that possible through the years. Given that I'm a hundred and two, you must also know that they are both older than dirt!!!!

Friends and "family of choice" along with some "birth families" allow us to life wonderful lives even when the storms of life make us feel weathered, ragged, and weary. They often will stand by, offer us a life raft when we need it and even sometimes... sometimes ... use that tough love to tell us, "Enough, stand up, get up and re-join the dance of life" Life is for the living and you are blessed to be living! Let's go, let's embrace today, right here right now... Let's celebrate each other, let's remember the good times, let's go!!!"  When the storms pass those friends are still there, loving us more, ready to laugh with us, at us, feed our souls with humor, healing heartaches (ours and theirs), the bonds of that connection never weakened by all we have been through, only strengthened by time, tears and love. I pray you have or someday find a friend or family of birth/choice like that.

I wish you enough!

 Walk In Beauty.