Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Friends Forever

One of the primary themes running through Reflections is the connection between friends and family. The book is about how one woman lost track of her place in life and her sudden need to rediscover who she is. She does this by navigating her capricious relationships with her daughter, sister and friends.

Friends are something to be treasured forever and always. Unlike family, they don’t have to like, support or even respect you. They choose to be a part of your life and you have to choose to keep them there. It’s essential to take time for them, especially if they’re important to you. 


The older we get, the more difficult it is to hold onto those friendships from years gone by. How many of us can honestly say we’re still in touch with our first friend? I’m not talking about family friends, or cousins. I’m talking about those first companions from daycare or Kindergarten. I can’t. We moved when I was nine, and while my parents were very good at keeping track of their friends, I wasn’t.  At first there were letters, but soon those tapered off, which is to be expected as I became more engrossed with my new surroundings.


Now, my high school friends are a different story altogether. Some of us went to college/university together, we had our kids together and while we all moved away from our home town, we still managed to stay connected. Perhaps the bond between us was more mature or perhaps we were just better at holding on to what was important in our lives.


Friends come and go, as the need arises. Some stay forever and others just drift through on a passing breeze. Very few actually stick around through the best and worst of who we can be. These are the people we need to treasure. In today’s world, geography isn’t an issue. We have so many ways to find each other, to stay in touch and to communicate. Publicly or privately, it doesn’t matter. Aside from my family, who I love with all my heart, the extraordinary group of women who surround me, both far and near, will always hold a special place in my heart. 




No comments:

Post a Comment