A friend is a Gift you give YourSelf……

102_3157                                                                           A few days ago I was settling in to make some Xmas wreaths and spend the afternoon in the “creative juices flowing” zone, when things changed suddenly. A friend from out of town, who had become unexpectedly ill while shopping, was at my door and needed help. For the next several hours, she was violently sick, but refused my calling for an ambulance. Eventually, she acquiesced to going to the ER when her husband arrived to take her; all turned out well, as she recovered from what was apparently a medication reaction.

Several things came to me out of this experience. As I spent about three hours taking care of her, I looked at how different our paths have been. She had no one to call except her husband. Since he could not be reached, there was no one to help her but me. I repeatedly asked if I could call a neighbor or nearby friend of theirs to go to their home and find her husband (since his cell phone was apparently turned off). There was no one. NO one.

Now, this situation is probably not that uncommon. Many people are introverts and many are of an independent nature, so that they don’t cultivate a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. I have always operated on the theory that my friends were my chosen family. My “Collection” of friends is, perhaps, my greatest acquisition. I spend a lot of time keeping in touch with my group of pals, and I treasure each of them. I realized that if I were in such dire straits, there would be many people to call. I am quite certain all of those I would call would come to my aid under almost any circumstance. This is a great Gift. A friend really is a Gift you give Your Self. I consider myself so very fortunate to have come across so many kindred souls in my lifetime…from my childhood and high school days through college, work, parenthood, and even more recently.

My definition of a true friend is someone who really loves you. Someone who cheers you on, comforts you in sorrow, and accepts you, warts and all. I made a list one day not long ago of my true friends. It was a long list. I am so very thankful that my path has led me to this place. I am so lucky to be Me!

“Well, I’m learning it’s peaceful with a good dog and some trees……..”

102_2950There is so much to confront these days if you stay” in the loop”.There is always lots of bad news from the media, dissension among communities, and a general anxiety about the state of the world. So, without retreating entirely, I try to balance staying informed and keeping myself out of the fray as much as I can. Joni Mitchell released a song back in 1972 called “Electricity”, which stated, in part:

“Well, I’m learning it’s peaceful with a good dog and some trees, Out of touch with the breakdown of this Century, They’re not gonna fix it up too easy.”

I now try to immerse myself in the positive things that I have always loved, or have come to love as I have gotten older. These things include spending time with my dogs, listening to only music that soothes or invigorates me, investigating subjects about which I have much to learn, and creating things that make me feel fulfilled (this could be art/craft projects, food, music, or prose).At any rate, I am trying to find meaning and comfort in my little corner of the World, despite what is, and perhaps has always been, going on.

As Dorothy was told, it is always best to start at the Beginning….

Hello! Here I am, starting my first blog. For any of you who are curious, loyal, and strange enough to follow me, I shall do my best to entertain, educate, stimulate, and inspire you. I believe that is what good writing should do, so I promise to try.

I will be changing this format as it unfolds; I will be learning the technology and techniques as I go.

My reasons for starting this blog are several, not the least of which is to feel a small sense of accomplishment each day. I have been told that many people in their 60’s go through a process of self-evaluation that is sometimes depressing and overwhelming. Since I have always been compulsively self-analytical, the reality of my age and the changing sense of time left to accomplish things has hit me hard lately; ergo, my new Blog!