Monday Musings

I'm lucky.  I have some amazing friends.  Smart people, good people, creative people, artistic people, good cooks & bad cooks, animal lovers and nature enthusiasts.  Teachers, nurses, doctors, musicians, therapists, low tech/high tech types, watchers of birds and watchers of clouds.

As annoying as Facebook can be, the platform has also brought some great folks into my sphere.  Mostly through real-time friends, but some show up on their own and exist only (until I meet them) on the internet.  On Facebook I belong to a cooking group and a couple of photography groups.  I get great ideas from both.  It's fun to share your passion with others.  Before FB (you remember that, don't you?) I met some pretty spectacular people through blogging.  My blogging buddies have been with me through the ups and downs, and it helped me to share my circumstances, no matter what they were.

I have been counting my blessings in these difficult times, and friends are among my greatest blessings.  I have friends that I've known for a very long time, and others (like my Sacramento gang) that welcomed me to my new home 5 years ago and gave me a fun social network to be a part of.  When the news du jour becomes depressing (and when does it not?) I let my peeps remind me that are plenty, plenty I tell you, of great people in this world.

Our newest friend, Andrash, from Kauai.

Make no mistake, I've lost friendships, too.  Misunderstandings, incompatibility, lack of interest or sincerity.  Sometimes I wonder if I should attempt a reconciliation, but when I think back about why we are no longer friends, it usually reassures me to leave things where they are.  It's only my codependent, control freak self calling.  I think I left  her at the bus stop two stops back.  Hopefully I've ditched her for good.

When the world seems so overcome with sadness, it's my friends I turn to.  And I count my husband along with them, of course.  His presence has calmed me and comforted me through many a challenge.  His humor makes me laugh.  Every. Damn. Day.

So, when this ol' world starts getting you down (thank you, Carole King), find some blessings to count.   Hopefully they have names.  And big hearts.  Gutsy out loud laughs.  Kindness.  Brilliance. And shoulders to lean on.