Friends

An old friend is in town for work and will be coming over to my house tonight for dinner and to spend the night.  Whenever any of my friends are in town for business I try to open my home to them for a home cooked meal and a comfortable bed if they need it.  I remember how much it meant to me back when I was traveling to leave the hotel and restaurants for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (with wine of course) in someones home.  Another friend used to do that for me so I'm just paying it forward.

This friend and I have had an interesting journey together.  We started out working together first and shortly thereafter she became my boss.  During the 8 years I worked for her, to say our relationship had it's bumps would be an understatement of epic proportions.  There was a time I would have done anything to get away from working for her and I think there were times she would have fired me if given the slightest provocation.

But the world moved on, as it often does in banking, and our roles changed.  She moved up to an executive position and I moved into her job.  We had always cared very much for each other on a personal level so once this move happened, we began to build a friendship.  One that was based on knowing each other very well, warts and all, and deciding we liked - even loved - each other anyway.

Those are the people I find mean the most to me in my life.  The ones who love me when I'm ugly and acting like a spoiled brat.  Those who can see past my bravado to the insecure little girl inside.  Those that will call me on my bullshit and not let me intimidate them.  The ones who let me also see that side of them so that I can love them equally as much.

I have a girlfriend, no...actually she's my sister from another mister.  We now live fairly far apart but it doesn't really matter. We don't even speak to each other (other than the occasional email, text or FaceBook message) very often but that really doesn't matter either.  We live in each other's hearts and minds and no matter what, when we are together it's like no time has passed at all.  I am Godmother to her oldest and she is Godmother to all three of my boys.  And when an event happens to either of us - either good or bad - we call each other first, before anyone else, to share the news.  I love her.

I have another BFF that lives close.  She's the eHarmony one I mentioned in a previous post.  She's also a sister from another mister but she's a little sister.  The one God forgot to give me growing up so He decided to give her to me now. She's younger but sometimes wiser than me and she fills my heart.  I love her too.

I have another friend that I keep up with on FaceBook and email that I've known since junior high.  We were in each other practice weddings.  We have history that no one else shares.  I love her too.

Another woman and I became close many years ago and really never kept in touch.  She came to town a couple of months ago and it was like no time had passed.  We went shopping, jabbering away at each other, and then she and her husband came to dinner and we jabbered away some more.  I cried when they left.  I love them both.

One lives across the country.  We speak once a year.  Usually for two hours.  Then we're done.  But I'd be there in a New York second if she needed me.  I love her.

One is my daughter.  Only 10 years my junior she is definitely wise beyond her years.  I loved her first as a daughter and now as my friend.  There are not words to describe the place she holds in my heart.

Some are just acquaintances and some who were once very good friends have drifted away.  One I suspect because she drinks too much and doesn't want to talk to me.  One because her life has just taken her in a different direction...for now.  Doesn't matter.  I love them.

So this is my gratitude list for this Friday.  I am grateful for all of the women that have entered, left or stayed in my life.  Thank you God for sending me these beautiful and wonderful women. I could never have become the woman I am without them and I would never want to try.

Yes'm, old friends is always best, 'less you can catch a new one that's fit to make an old one out of.  ~Sarah Orne Jewett