Making Friends

At this moment in time three friends are on my mind.

One who I had the honor of working for, well maybe not the honor, but thanks to answering an ad I worked for her for six months about 11 years ago. Her friendship was by far the best thing I got out of that job, oh and the knowledge that I’m only good at selling things when I don’t have to. Life is busy as many of you can relate to. We don’t see each nearly as often as either of us would like. This week, however, was an exception. Three hours split over two days we spent cross-country skiing together. The first day there were tears from laughter, most of which came after one of us fell. The other day there were nearly tears as we opened our hearts to each other. There’s just something about sharing nature’s peace that causes deep conversations.

It’s not often in my life that I feel a connection with a potential new friend, and the second friend on my mind I have only known since September and unfortunately she will be moving out of the state at the end of this week. She, like me, is not from the area, which initially drew me to her, well that and a mutual friend. She has a wonderful fun, honest, lively personality that I appreciate and respect. She moved her only a year and a half ago and I am not the only one sad to see her go, she has left a lasting impression on many. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to share many laughs, many over margaritas, with her. She has an awesome daughter who, even though she is 4 years older than my daughter, has bonded with her and has shown me the importance of having positive role models for my daughter. We will miss them both, but thanks to Facebook we will still see each other, and I have every intention of keeping in touch. I would like to think that I will visit them in Colorado, but the truth is that there are friends across the country who I think about often, many on a daily basis, that I like to think I will visit soon.

The third friend on my mind just celebrated a milestone birthday this week, which brings me back to a short conversation we had a few years ago that remains vivid in my mind. We were sitting at a baseball game together talking about ways to celebrate our, then far off, 40^th birthdays. She mentioned someone she knew who celebrated by taking a trip with their girlfriends. A fabulous idea I thought and still have the thought in my mind. We’ve been friends for about eight years and once again do not see each as often as I would like, but she’s never far from my thoughts. Life got in the way this week as we tried to arrange for a birthday lunch date. I just hope that if I haven’t been invited on the trip she’ll send me a postcard. After all I still have a few years yet to plan my own celebration.

Cheers to all the strong, funny women I am fortunate enough to call my friends. I’ve done a great job of surrounding myself with positive friends in the past dozen years or so and I highly recommend it to you all.