Weekend Grateful: You Gotta Have Friends...

Cyber friends  Best Friends  Good Friends  Old Friends  New Friends 

Friendship  - throw yourself into the middle of the social pond

and watch the ripple of friendship widen and widen and widen...

After a little break I am joining back in to Maxabella's Weekend Grateful Blog Hop once more. Today I bring in the big guns. Friends. What would the world be like without your BFF'S? Or any of your friends? What would our childrens' lives be like without their mates? Seriously, true love and soul mates are a wonderful thing, but who is it you turn to when the dream lover pisses you off? You got it - your friends!

Veronica started me thinking on this earlier in the week when she posted about how important finding a friend is for our special kids. It made me think of Boy 1 and his best mate C. It brought the up my fears for Boy 2 and his social issues and lack of confidence in friendship.

It made me think of my friends and realise how much each and every one of them means to me. I cooked a birthday dinner for one of my nearest and dearest last night. She was my first friend I ever made on this mountain over a decade ago, and still one of my closest. We have been through a lot together - and that is the operative word,TOGETHER. She is someone I know I could always count on, who loves me warts and all. As I do her. I mean, let's face it - I rarely cook and for her I cooked for over 3 hours to give her an Italian feast. That says a lot!

We'd be here all day if I were to individually mention each and everyone of those I adore, and I must admit, rely on. They are my lifeblood. I could not survive without them. I am a social creature by nature and tend to go into withdrawals if I don't catch up with at least some of the beautiful people of my world on a regular basis.

So to all of my wonderful friends - know I am grateful every day for your presence in my life. We may not talk everyday, we may not see each other for months, even years. We may not have even met face to face. But true friendship is not made up of keeping tabs or a tally. True friendship is not about scores or one upmanship (is that a word?), it is about being there when needed, laughter, tears, support and fun.

I think I need to start up my friendship posts once more... If you want to know more about some of my wonderful friends see these: Feeling Mellow Posts. What about you - are you more of a solitary creature or are you like me?

Feeling Mellow #4 - The Friendship Posts

I have a friend. An Internet friend. Some could argue that this does not equate to a real friend, that a cyber friend is not a true friend. I would argue the opposite. A friend is someone who supports you, laughs with you, tells you when you are wrong, and is there when needed.  A friend is someone for whom you would do the same, and who touches your heart in a myriad of ways. A friend offers you the wisdom of their experiences in shared dilemmas and life experiences. Kakka is my friend. She has helped me through the darkest of times, offered me support across the miles, listened when I have ranted and railed at the injustices of it all. And laughed along side me at the silliest of things.

A beautiful blogger, she is becoming known throughout the cyberworld as a supportive constant, commenting, reading, contributing in many, many ways. Her wit amuses and dazzles many in her Menopausal Mumma blog, and then she inspires and motivates us with her positiveness on The Half Full Glass. Even in the face of evil she looks for the good. Oh, she is one hell of an incredible woman, so much stronger and more gracious than I could dream of being.

And so to her, as she struggles with sadness, I send my love. Across the continent, I offer my shoulder to cry on, my ears to listen, my unconditional support and even, not that you would, my car to run over the dickhead if they ever find him. Anything, and I do mean anything you need, do not hesitate to ask, Karen. That is what friends are for. And do not ever doubt that a friend is exactly what you are.

I must admit I am not feeling mellow in this one, I am angry about the injustice of an ugly world. I am upset that a friend is in pain and that a good woman is suffering. Not mellow, oh no.

Feeling Mellow #3 - Friendship Posts

I have a friend. A glorious friend. When one looks at her, it is her inner strength and purity of heart that dazzles you. Her heart of gold. Some do not see it, they see only the surface, they do not dig below to find the incredible treasure she is.

I count her as one of my dearest friends, I know she is one of the most loyal. I think she knows me warts and all, I truly believe she understands me. We have lived a parallel life, and as time goes by we have to laugh at the continual coincidences that keep popping up.

She has survived the unthinkable, she is one of the strongest women I know, and yet so many miss that. I believe she likes to fly underneath the radar, her smooth moves undetected. I wonder if anyone realises how razer sharp her wit really is, how quick her reactions are, how little she worries over people who are not important to her.

Okay, I admit it, I am in awe of her. And so very proud to call her friend.

Feeling Mellow #2 - Friendship Posts...

I have a friend. A magic friend. Not a spiritual friend, oh no. She would whack me one if I called her that (though in her own unique way she is). We finally managed to catch up yesterday after a year of "we must do's...". We met two years ago through a kids' soccer team, though I knew of her long before. You see, she is one of the most gifted artisans I have ever come across and I coveted much of her work years before I actually met her face to face. I still covet much of her work, and one day I shall own one of her pieces! The hard bit will be deciding which one.

And no, this is not one of her pieces.

She dwells in the land of faery, the fey, and mystical creatures, and yet claims not to be spiritual. She has looked death in the face and fought her way back believing in positive life forces pushing her forward, but she is not spiritual. She looks for the good in people even whilst battling the bad, is convinced there is magic in our jaded existence, and sees the mysteries of life, but by hell, do NOT call her spiritual!

I love being with her, we are kindred spirits she says, and I must agree. We both have very similar tastes in most things, and think in a very like manner.

Yesterday she had been through a physical wringer with attempts for some follow up tests failing, so it was a little more sombre a meeting than we planned. I couldn't for the life of me think of any jokes to lighten the mood. Instead we talked, there is so much in this burgeoning friendship we have yet to reveal to each other, yesterday was us making inroads into the past and the paths we have taken to get to where we are.

Ah, it was a lovely interlude, just lovely. Cannot wait for the next one! Might just have to drop in to her Aladdin's cave of treasures to say a quick gidday later.

Feeling Mellow...

I have a friend. A beautiful friend. Well, she is one of my many beautiful friends, and I will get to all of you, but this one is about her. She dropped in unexpectedly early yesterday when we were all still clad in our smelly, sweaty pjs, unshowered, teeth and breath... well, urgh about sums it up.

She brought her daughter with her. I asked her in, pre-warning her of our unsanitory state. She came happily, warmly, smiling as she always does. Seeing her is like being wrapped in one of those balmy spring breezes, refreshing yet so lovely and warm. I am very grateful for her being in my life. I mean, let's face it - I am high maintenance at times! But she is gentle, calm and understanding, even as she is shaking her head and uttering "Oh, Madmother!"

What was lovely yesterday was watching her child and mine playing together. Her daughter is also gentle, quiet, but with an inner strength like her mother (though she would deny that trait). At times she is almost other worldly. Not in a vague, disoriented way, but almost like Boy 1. Off on a higher plane with imagination roaring, slaying the bad, embracing the good.

The two of them went off into the kid haven and were playing eye toy on the PS2. I knew her Mother was a little worried about the boy/girl dynamics, and the roughness of some, but Boy 1 is not at all like that. We walked into the room to watch them just prior to the departure. Boy 1 was telling Dragon girl (her daughter) how great she doing for a beginner, how much better than he was when he started she is, and lots of lovely positive stuff. It was beautiful to watch. Friendship. Uncomplicated, straight down the line, friendship.

*Sigh*. What a wonderful morning, even if I was self-conscious about my odour.