Choose The Best People You Know To Be Your Best Friends

The Best People You Know

Dear Grandchildren,

It’s been awhile since I have written to you. Time has a way of slipping through your fingers like sand. Poppa is home now and working hard to get his strength back. I spend a lot of time driving him to rehab and doctor’s appointments. Then the blueberries ripened and I’ve been crazy busy trying to keep up with picking, boxing and selling them. I think of you and pray for each of you every single day. You are mine and Poppa’s sunshine on cloudy days!

I spent last weekend with some of my oldest, dearest friends and so I have the topic of friendship on my mind. When I was very young, like most of you sweeties, I loved spending time with my friends. Eventually I got old enough that my parents allowed me to go places with my girlfriends and I spent the night at their homes and they spent the night at mine. Their mothers were my part-time mothers and my mom became a surrogate mom to my friends.

My mother was a great cook and loved to feed our (my brother’s too) friends. Food is connected to memories like peanut butter is to jelly….all my friends still talk about my mother’s homemade biscuits, cakes, pies and fresh garden vegetables. But they didn’t come to my house just for my mother’s cooking (although that was certainly something we all enjoyed). My parents were great at making my friends feel at home and they loved hanging out at my house.

When you are young it’s often important to be popular, the more friends you have the better. When you get to be my age you realize that life isn’t a popularity contest and that the people who truly love you for who you are, are the people who are really your friends.

Some of my friends I have known since birth. Others I met in high school. I read a quote once about “one true friend” ….

I am so lucky to have more than one!

While you are growing up remember to hang out with people who will build you up, not tear you down. If a friend talks about you behind your back or gets mad at you over silly things….they aren’t really your friend. A true friend always has your back, always. If you don’t remember anything else I say about friendship remember this…choose the best people you know to be your best friends.

I am blessed with many things but none surpass the blessings of faith, family and friends.

Love you, my grandchildren!

Friends Hall of Fame….Some of the Best People I know

Melinda and I share a love for writing and education.

I don’t have a photo of my “church girlfriends” but they are amazing and I love them dearly! Church gals, we need a photo shoot soon!

It hit me last night after I went to bed that I’d left off two very important people! My cousin, Chris, who opened his door to me during Bill’s long hospital stay and provided respite during a very hard time. I also left out Martha and even though she’s been gone for several years, she was one of the best friends ever. She was my cousin, too, and cousins share family history. I miss her daily but I’m glad I still have Chris to reminisce about family and days gone by!