Once Again....

I’m sure my few loyal readers have read my thoughts about friendship before. But a recent trip to Maryland has made me, once again, think about the friends who mean so much to me. Friends who crossed my path early in life (Sally in third grade) or high school (Karen and Barb). Friends who were part of growing up in the church I attended in Park Ridge (The Other Lynn)....friends from college (so many) and friends that I « found » as our family moved around the Country following Dave’s career choices.

Making friends as an adult can present challenges. You don’t have the kids to lead the way....you don’t meet your son’s best friend only to find she will become you best friend while you spend years living in NJ (Nancy). You move as adults and you have to reach out and find other ways to find those special people that really « fit ». You don’t have a shared history. In Delaware I joined a Newcomers Club and met the sister I never knew I had! Janie and I began to refer to each other as YSIAL (your sister in another life). Our friendship developed quickly and led to all kinds of fun days and adventures. The closeness  continues even though she now lives in Alaska and we are in Wisconsin.

My other bestie in Delaware was Phoebe.....and I remember with an ache all of the time, laughter, conversation and laughter we shared. Now, due to dementia my best friend no longer knows me at all...so I carry our friendship memories alone.

But I digress. Our recent adventure exploring Chesapeake Bay on a sailboat reminded us that the muscles we used and took for granted for so many years are now much older and not as flexible. But the time spent with good friends made any discomfort well worth the pain. I will be forever grateful that Marcia was a roommate my freshman year at Ripon College and that Tom and Denise had their sailboat in a slip across from ours on Blue Dock at Haven Harbor.

Here is a toast to friendship. The old ones full of memories, the current ones that mean so much...and new ones just starting to develop. I can’t imagine how empty my life would be without you all.....