Old friends, New friends, Borrowed friends, Blue friends. All kinds of friends. You know how some friends are with you for part of life's journey, while some come in, go out and come in again and others (the special few) walk alongside you the whole way. Well I thought of this recently and realised it's ok that some friends that are with you for just a while (you work together, you live nearby, you're in a relationship) and that when that friendship ends (you leave the job, you move house, you break up, you grow apart) it's just part of the overall journey. The fact that friendship fades doesn't make it anything less, it just makes it of its time and it's ok to enjoy it while it lasts.
These thoughts surfaced when I went to Michael Steel and Greg Sellar's Leaving-for-Australia party. I was initially reluctant to attend (my life as a Nike Fitness Athlete feeling like several lifetimes ago) but in the end Fred Hoffman came over (lives in Paris and a wonderful 'in and out friend' over the years) and we went together. I got to see Joy Campanaro for the second time in a weekend (new friend) and enjoyed seeing Michael and Greg and lots of people I hadn't seen for years (old friends). I did meet two people I'd been incredibly fond of, Shirel Keller-Stemmons who always amazed me with her boundless energy and her gorgeous body (and yes, she's still gorgeous in 2014 after four kids) and Jayne Nicholls, who probably is the wittiest woman I've ever met in my life. For years Jayne and I worked together and were firm friends and meeting her again I remembered how much we'd laughed.
So, cheers to all kinds of friends, those you meet for a few sunny days and those there for all seasons and all those in-between, I've valued each and every one of you. And to you Jayne, thanks for walking along the way with me for a while - it was fun.