Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Why it is good to have friends . . .

I haven't had friends, a big circle of friends, since high school. Back then, everyone little clique found others with similar interests, and that became your group. For me, that was fifteen year ago.

Today, however, I learned that once again have more friends in my circle than I can shake a stick at. It rivals the group I had in high school! While I somehow knew I had these friends, I didn't realize how many or how truly committed they were until just this weekend. Then they came out of the woodwork in droves, and for that I am so grateful.

We are in the process of a move and my hubby is not around a lot as a result. Over the course of 2 days, every friend I have in the area, even ones I didn't realize were real friends, those ones you can count on in a pinch, called me to see how I was doing. They ALL offered to help babysit or run errands when needed, come and help pack, move boxes, or just let me unload emotionally if necessary. I have waited fifteen years to have friends like this again, and now I have to leave them. Subtle irony there, no?

But the upside is they are there - they are sticking to me even though I will be 2000 miles away in two months. With promises to call and keep in touch, we all know how easy it is to lose friends when distance and life in general get in the way. Only this time I have all their email address and phone numbers, and I will make avid use of them. Friends like these I just can't move away from; part of them will move with me when I go.

And hopefully, a small part of me will stay with them as well.

Thanks, friends.