Friends forever

Tonight, I wanted to write about Friendship.. I am not a person with a million followers on Facebook or Snapchat (which I don't even have). I have what I would call true friends. Those are friends that you know, in person. Friends that you share life with not just share pictures of your live with. These are the friends that you call and will always answer. The ones that you can reach out to and they will be there to catch you, hold you or listen to you.

Romanticizing friendship on Social Media people say how important their friends are but how often do you hold your hand out and know there is going to be someone reaching back. It doesn't matter if life is good or not. If I am happy or sad. There are friends in my life that I know that if I pick up the phone they are there. And even if God only knows I would never not be there for them.

A week or so ago, I was telling someone at work about one of my friends and said how we had been friends for more than 30 years. I actually have more of those than work friends. Somehow my work friends usually become the 30 year kind. I am sure she can't fathom having friends that long since she probably isn't 30 years old. I feel like just like furniture and everything else in a 20 something's life friends are also disposable. There is nothing further from the truth. To have a friend you knew in middle school at my age each time we get together we can talk about the same good times and have the same memories and same feelings good or bad, happy or sad. Feelings of appreciation for the times we have shared even if they are years apart.

Changes happen and sometimes I don't see an old friend for a long time but then meet up with one of those 30 year friends that I haven't seen in that amount of time but it doesn't matter. There is something about a true friend no matter when the last time you talked or why it has been so long. When we get together all that matters is that we are there. I had another that I met up a few years back and we shared so many of the same things in life you don't realize all the ups and downs until you are reviewing that many years in one sitting.

You ask what is the purpose of all this friend talk. It is to say Thanks. Thanks for always being there. For always having my back. And if you are reading this and I have know you forever I consider you one of those people that if you reach out I will be there and please never forget. I am here for you. Even if you aren't 30 years old. There are a few of you out there that just aren't as old as me but I have probably known you most of your life. I am there for you as well.  Love you.

30 Years Later

So I am not sure where time goes.  One day I was young and would never grow up and the next day I have gray hair and need glasses to read. Where did all the days in between go.There were weddings and funerals. Babies were born and birthday parties.We bought a house and moved. But that was just a few of all these days that have past by. I just calculated 10,950 days give or take since high school. All but a year of all those days I have worked. So a little college a lot of working and a lot of being married. It is all good. So as I look back and wish for the things I missed but I am happy for the things I have. But honestly how could it be 30 years.

I find it funny in the last few weeks people I haven't seen or heard from in years have requested to be my friend on Facebook. I guess with the reunion coming up they see my name and think man I wonder what she has been up to. The funny thing is some of us still live right here in Clearwater. One just yesterday. Katie. Katie and I went to school with her from Skycrest Elementary School, Kennedy Middle School and Clearwater High School. We went to the same church. I have seen her at that same church since. I remember her son was an alter boy and very faithful young man and how she was very proud of him as I am sure she is of all her kids. Not sure how many she has. We grew up in that church had our first communion and our confirmation together. But somehow lost touch. I have been an off again on again church goer for a long time. But not to single her out there is Brian from elementary school as well and Carrie. There are so many from band in high school. Nancy and Linda and Peggy and Mike and Tom and Kim... I know there are some that are no longer with us. I just really don't know where all the days went.

I attended our 10 year reunion and felt out of place. Some people recognized me but said my name wrong. So you are reading my name tag but my face it is familiar. I did not go to the 20 or 25 what ever they had. I thought why go. I am not one to have something to gloat about. I am not a Dr. I have not discovered a cure for cancer or have I walked on the moon. Just a lot of back and forth to and from work. Putting in the hours and the days that are my life. Now it has only been in the last few days that I thought well what the heck. Why not go. This is not one of those reunions like the 10 year that was very expensive. And just maybe this will be fun.

I must say I am nervous. Maybe I will not be recognized and maybe no one will know my name. I don't know am I as unremarkable as I make myself out to be? But I think Friday night Brian and I will go out and have a nice time and visit with some people I have not seen in years and hope that maybe some old friends will become new friends again. Saturday night well that all depends on how Friday night goes. I will let you know how things work out but for those of you that are not as old as me and are wondering when you will be old enough don't blink or you will miss it.

Happy 30th Reunion to the Clearwater High Class of 1985