MY FRIENDS

I was able to have lunch with a very dear friend this week. It was so good to see her. We laugh quite a bit. We are kindred spirits, both left-handed, both nurses--detail-oriented, and fiercely committed to our families. She was a great friend during Clu Flu's illnesses and death. She has moved far away, but comes back routinely. We had not had a visit since October. We tried to catch up sufficiently with each others' lives within 1 1/2 hours--talking in fragments, knowing that the other would understand the query: "Kids?" "Fine"--"Work?", etc.

During our visit, I blurted out rather unexpectedly that I never want to lose her friendship. I don't feel the friendship is jeopardized....but there is a great mileage distance between us. It is very difficult for me to "lose" those close to me. She wondered where that came from.

I explained that I feared that a long-term friendship of mine had suffered some damage last Fall as a result of the political campaigns---and I was at a loss as to how to get back to the friendship prior to the political issues.

I never say "best friend" because all my close friends are diverse and from different parts of my life. They are equally important to me. It is my hope that I have contributed something positive to each friend to return the many positive things they have each given me.

Family is the backbone of our lives, but the friendships enrich our lives.

If you are my friend and you are reading this....you know what I mean. I love you all and I cherish our friendships.