A Note About Friendship

Tonight I'm disturbed that hospitalization no longer alarms me. They are her "new norm." I've become accustomed to the long pauses between texts, several days before voicemails are returned, and the whispered, half-asleep voice that answers the times when she catches it ringing. Their are too many miles to travel for daily visits, and I can't send orchids each time. My peace is in the gift God blessed her with, her husband, a guy who I know God created to take care of her. I'm thankful to God for him. I thought back to a converstation had at a birthday brunch I attended last Saturday for a dear friend. One of the other ladies in attendance remarked that she was rich in friendship. I had to cosign on that profession, for I too am rich in friendship. My friends are the ones people dream of having, God-fearing, progressive, compassionate, intelligent, wise, fun, real, and growing. I will continue to pay whatever the premiums necessary to continue to have these quality friendships as a part of my life. My prayer is that I provide for them the same joy and enrichment they provide to my life each and every day. Finally, I thought of just how simple, yet profound, the impact of friendship plays on our lives. There are studies that support friendship is good for our well being. Khalil Gibran says, "Your friend is your needs answered. He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving." I certainly attest to that. Tonight I thought about Nancy, how simple our friendship was, lunch, black films, author events, concerts, library meet ups, dollar movies, naps on the couch. She was one of the few friends who had time to "drop by", sit around the house and talk, a lost art I plan to pick back up. Tonight I'm missing her a lot, the simplicity and ease at which our friendship flowed. We would have texted all last night about the election, Called each other today and chatted about it and the crazy folks we may have encountered or saw. She was easy. Resonating in my spirit over and over again is that she always made time. I must learn to make more time like that for my friends, just one more lesson she leaves with us. Whatever the cost in life to have friends like her, and others which remain integral parts of my life, I will continue to pay for as long as I live, for the return on investment for me have been priceless: the gift of life. May each of you experience the LIFE and LOVE that comes from having and being a friend. My friends save my life, everyday. And I am thankful to God for being so merciful and graceful to have sent them my way.