Friends…
There are thousands of poems, stories and notes written on the Web regarding friendships. I read them and they resonate with me, but today I thought I would rather write my own version of what friendship means to me.
I was divorced in 1994. I can’t believe how the years have gone by since then. Twenty eight years of living on my own! How on earth could this be possible?
Affairs, I’ve had a few, but then again – too few to mention. Using the Frank Sinatra Song about regrets to set the scene. But these were not sustainable and I much prefer being on my own.
The truth, however, is that in all these years, I have never been on my own.
Friends have bolstered me in various ways from the very first day I was left to fend for myself.
Some have stayed in touch throughout the span of years, while others fell away. They come in all shapes and sizes and each is like an angel in disguise.
The extrovert…
Always on the go. Organising things, planning in advance, encouraging participation in all sorts of adventures that I would never have thought of doing on my own. They thrive on this type of existence and excel at it.
The quiet sincere type…
These you can open your heart to and tell them anything and they will listen and only offer advice when it is asked for. One knows that your secrets will be safe with them and I am blessed to have a number of friends like this.
The questioner…
Always needing to know everything and everyone. First with all news and events and invaluable if this is what one is looking for. A wonderful source of knowledge that they are always more than happy to share with everyone.
The old friends…
We seldom get to see each other, but even when we meet up after 20 years, the bond still exists and just grows stronger!
The thread that runs through all of them, though, is that they are all exactly what I need to keep me growing and making me feel complete. So to all my dear friends, where every you are in the world, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support, love and kindness you have showered me with. Each and every one of you is special to me.
Tenpin…
There were 11 of us playing today. Two new comers and a grand daughter! There were some really impressive scores and strikes and it shows that the games we are playing, although very light hearted, are doing the trick and we are improving.
It is holiday season at the moment, so the lanes are all nice and full. It is fun to watch the various games going on around us. The rails are raised on a few lanes where children are playing and this makes it very exciting for them. The ball goes from one side of the lane – hits the rail – rebuffed to the opposite rail and finally ends in a strike!
I do wish we could use them as well. Would stop the odd gutter ball. I don’t think I have mentioned the way one is treated in the group when we do throw a gutter ball? A refrain rings out, “In the ditch, bitch!” and these are friends who are saying it. Go figure.
The weather…
We have actually been very lucky since Petros went on leave. Overcast, windy weather has prevailed most days, meaning that the plants he planted and cared for so nicely should all survive the three weeks that he will be away.
Inside the temperature is pleasant with a lack of humidity which normally is pretty high by this time of year. The mosquitoes seem to have settled down as well which is delightful as far as I am concerned. I’m sure that when the heat and humidity return, so will they.
One of my friends at Tenpin mentioned that she has ordered a mosquito net for her bed from Takealot and I am tempted to follow her lead. However, I have a ceiling fan over my bed and I am not sure whether there will be enough clearance for me to attach it to.
Pending visit…
I am very excited. One of my friends is accompanying me to visit Brett and Amor on Thursday. She also has two sons who live out of town on a smallholding and grow their own produce, so I think she will enjoy seeing how they do it in Botha’s Hill.
Enough for today.
