Fairy Garden

When I first moved to Tennessee I was in High School. Yes, it was awful to be moved out of state and leave everyone behind.

There were no cell phones, skyping, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ any way to connect with friends. Just old fashioned writing letters. (that got old quick)

I had no friends and was ready to start in a new school. Then, a blonde hair beauty showed up at my grandmother's house one day. We were living with my grandmother till we found a house to move into.

Her name was Carol. She became my friend and I survived my transition. We had a blast! We laughed and did things we probably shouldn't have but we created some great memories.

We are still friends today.

FRIENDS

My laptop got a virus and that is where I upload my pictures for my posts. Sorry I haven't been able to shoot them out! I decided to write a few lines of things I am feeling the last couple of weeks.

My mom told me when I was young, that if you can count your good friends on one hand you are lucky!

What makes a good friend?  

We all have our own definition of that. I feel very fortunate to have had some wonderful people in my life. I still have friends from kindergarten and believe me that is a long time and with my 30th reunion around the corner I got to thinking about friendship. I believe it is a two way street. It takes effort to keep a friendship. Some of the people I will see at the reunion I haven't seen in a long time but know it will take me back to a different time we shared. Some are still the friends I have today.

We all get busy and life changes things, but true friends find a way to keep it together. Recently, my long time friends have been going through a lot in their life. I think the only way you can help sometimes is to just listen and pray for them. Be there when they need you.

"If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile... But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me."unknown

Some of my friends I haven't seen in a long time but as soon as the phone rings, it is just like yesterday and we can't stop sharing our stories! I have some friends that say the same things I do at the same time and them we laugh and smile because we know that's what friends do.

 Does this happen to you?

I feel it is a connection or bond that stays with you. It is renewed at different stages in your life.

Some of my newest friends are the people I have met in the blog world. I feel so lucky to have this other avenue. I would have never thought this possible but I really do cherish the friendships I have made here.

I cannot lie. I have had friends come and go. I have had friends hurt me too. I think God puts people in our life at certain times and we are there to help them or they are there to help us and then they are gone.

"There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will." unknown 

I work hard at friendship. It means a lot to me. I will do whatever it takes to help my friends. A good friend is a treasure and you should never take advantage of that. Sometimes they are the only person you can count on to get you through! Sometimes they are the only ones that understand you. It is selfless giving.

My friends have been an inspiration. Some have been like family. They make me laugh, and think, and challenge me to be a better person.

 I remember a song I taught my girls in scouts.

"Make new friends and keep the old, one is glitter and the other gold!" 

Friends are all gold to me! Thanks for being there. Thanks for being a friend in one capacity or another.

And if you are new here, I look forward to building a friendship with you too!

"Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest... It's about who came, and never left your side..."unknown

It's A Small World

Over the weekend I went to a party to celebrate my friends accomplishment of running in the Country Music Half Marathon. They trained for a long time and they made it to the finish line.

Flashback a few years ago. I was on Facebook talking to some friends. You see when I was in High School in New Jersey my parent's decided to move to Tennessee. I was going into my Junior year of school. It was summer and I didn't get to say goodbye to a lot of my friends. It was not like today. No cell phone, No Facebook, No Skype, just a few hand written letters. (Remember those?) Needless-to-say, it was very traumatic to me.

Then a few years ago I got Facebook and was once again connected to the many friends I had left. Some looked different, some still the same and some I can remember the name but not the face.

I go back home to see family and friends from time to time. Leaving NJ kept me holding on to memories that most forgot. After all it, was the place where I grew up.

One day I was commenting on a friends status from NJ and my girlfriend Colleen wrote that it was hot in Tennessee. I commented, "How do you know?" She said, "Cause I live here!" When I asked where she informed me that she lives close to me! ........WHAT?!!....... It is a small world!

So this weekend she invited me over to celebrate her accomplishment and said that another one of our friends was flying in to join her. Colleen and Tara are best friends. I haven't seen Tara in 32 years! Yeah I said it!! YUK! It really freaked me out that it had been so long!!!

I surprised her. It was weird how everything just kinda fell in place. We talked about school and friends we had in common. The strangest thing though was how our daughters were so much alike. It was so much fun. It is great to rekindle friendships. I have some really great friends. I hope to keep in touch with these girls.

This year I will be celebrating my 30th reunion. Looking back I realize that things are different now that I am older. There are a lot of things that mean more to me now. One thing is I cherish my friendships even more!

I love making new friends too. Blogging has introduced me to a lot of new ones!!! What kind of "small world" experiences have you had?

You are never too old for friends!

Thanks for being here!