Staying Connected

I've had many pictures taken of me in my lifetime, most not so good, a few that are "o.k."  I'm not a big fan of having my picture taken, guess it's because so many show that "crooked smile" that's genetic, or all my freckles (which seem to be resurfacing just like when I was six!), the crows-feet around my eyes and mouth (from so many years of smilin').  But this isn't a posting about aging, good picture vs. bad picture, this is about staying connected to our friends!

In many ways, friends define us and keep us sane. For women nearing 50, as our generation ages, our networks of friends become larger.  Not only larger but more important to us.

I'm a fairly outgoing lady, I've never been shy nor been too overly concerned with what other's may think of me.  My motto has always been, "don't take yourself too seriously, cuz' no one else does!"  I believe that!  I love to walk up to a stranger and start a conversation with them, I enjoy meeting new people, I enjoy making friends.  In the words of Maya Angelou, "we're all more alike than unalike."  So true..............The beautiful lady in the picture is my friend Mary, we've known each other for ten years.  She is an incredible lady and we have "ginormous" amounts in common. I love her very much, in fact, I just had her over this past Saturday for six hours, we had a lot of fun and  time to talk.  I needed my "fix of Mary," it had been too long. To me, I think of friendship as something I need like exercise or a good night's sleep.

Friendship is not a constant state of connection; it needs to be tended like a garden, and improves with that tending.  In the past couple of years, I've been able to reconnect with many friends from grade school.  I was never one for getting "hyped" about a reunion (high school or otherwise), those that I was friends with in grade school or high school, are those that I want to stay connected to.  There is Carol, Kellee, Meg, Stacey, Sarah, Maxie, Melanie, Beverly, Cathy, Janie, Jerry, Jay, Randy, Rob, Rod, Mike, Nancy, Nora, Penney and a plethora of other truly, terrific friends.

 Every hour of friendship time I add to my life diminishes stress and increases my happiness.  There are things you will tell a friend that you wouldn't tell a spouse or lover.  Even a small shot of "friend time" can recharge my spirit and help me maintain that connection.  Meg and I try to chat at least once a week through messenger, Carol calls whenever she's up and available to shop and go out to lunch.  Kellee sends me emails that she won't send anyone else.....cuz' she know's me so well. Sweet Stacey for posting one of the nicest "surveys" amongst our friends on Facebook about my writing, Maxie for her sweet, personal letters to me via FB, Sarah for her kindness, and honesty.....I could go on and on about my dear friends.............I cherish them all.

I find that's it's really easy and enormously satisfying to "pick up where we left off," even after thirty plus years!  I love each and everyone of you, thank you for the friendship, history we share, laughter, giggles and tears. You're the BEST!!!

P.S.  I have wonderful photo's of these treasured friends that I wanted to post on here, but.............I couldn't get them to post for some reason.....shucks!