Keeping up with Friends

Happy crispy cool Thursday afternoon.  Several days ago, before this last weekend, actually the middle of the week, last week, I was hanging out in mid afternoon having a cold one with one of my girlfriends in our, just outside the city limits, corner ‘meet and greet’.  She commented on not having been in the area for a while and was having fun catching up with familiar faces.  I commented back that she should commend me for having kept up with her over the last few years as it was not always easy.  This received a smile and giggle from her as she agreed and related she was glad we had made the effort.  That got me to thinking about how it does take some effort to maintain a friendship or bare minimum a reliable open path of communication. I have observed thru the years how most groups of friends tend to have an unofficial ‘social planner’ that has all the phone numbers, email addresses and is on the mostly reliable gossip chain to hold them together.  My high school class started getting together once a year over the same weekend sometime after our 20 year reunion. I love them all so much and to know we have that weekend saved each year to catch up with each other has turned into a priceless gift.  One of my very special friends I knew from my church youth group was lost to me for over 20 years. She found me on facebook thru one of my children.  We have vowed to never lose each other again as we have way too much history between us.  You know we feel that ‘family’ best friend forever bond.  I guess things that truly matter and those ones that have a special place in our hearts are worth the effort, worth the extra moment it takes to place that call, write a letter, send an email or call out a posse to maintain, encourage, or just be available for what friends do best.  I am so thankful for all those I am privileged to call my friends, cousins, sister and brother, and adult children included. My BFF from high school, Ruthann and I used to spend probably way too much time in her bathroom trying out makeup and such.  There was a decoupage plaque, her very crafty Mom had made, hanging on the wall opposite the toilet, that I used to read over and over “A FRIEND IS NOT A FELLER WHO IS TAKEN IN BY SHAM. A FRIEND IS ONE WHO KNOWS OUR FAULTS AND DOSEN’T GIVE A DAMN”.  Hope you have lots of damn good friends.  kisses