You cannot put a price on the value of true friendship. Over the course of one's life, friends come and friends go. For the most part, a few hang in there like a rusty nail. I have always had this strange relationship with my friends. It starts off hard, fast and intense and that is enough to cement the foundation for a long lifetime of laughs.
Although the Atlantic divide poses a few (minor) problems when trying to stay connected, Facebook has really helped rejuvenate day-to-day contact with many of our friends. Since returning home to lovely Ireland we have had no shortage of pond-hoppers. The hardest part of having guests in our home, is when it comes time to say goodbye. That harsh reminder that no matter how many times we sync electronically, there is no substitution for the face-to-face connections and the warmth of a real hug with those that we love.
Living in my home town, I am beyond blessed to have rekindled relationships with the girls I went to school with. Truth be told (girls - don't you dare) there was no rekindling needed. These girls are the kind that walk in your back door unannounced, and take your children without hesitation or permission and no one (not even the children!) question it.
They are the kind of girls that will pose with you for one more picture even though the laptop has 4,000 of the exact same photo. The kind of girls that when you need them most, there is no need to call for them because they are already there.
Of course the door is always open to making new friends. Attending University is a great way to meet people and make new friends. Over the last few months I have met some very unique and amazing people. Some of them bake the most wonderful cakes and drive them (carefully) to my house for parties!
Pizzapahluzza at our house last night ended up being 'friendapahluzza'. And what a lovely blend of friends it was!
Although I get sad when a friend leaves us after having a fun-filled week of love and laughter, in a way, it is just another reminder of how lucky I am. Lucky to have wonderful, talented, smart, funny friends that surround us (and our children) to share food and stories and songs.
The children are of the age now that they get rather attached to the friends that we have, so the tearful goodbyes are a little more intense. Explaining the distance across the pond is still a challenge and the lack of understanding as to 'why Tommy can't come back next weekend' is something we are working on.
Everyone needs someone. Relationships are hard work. I am a firm believer in making an investment in all the relationships I am involved in. If you make no effort to dig your heels in for the long haul, then the relationship will fizzle and the friendship might fade. However, those that have been cemented in a firm foundation prove to have lifelong stamina.
So here's to you, to all my friends
May life's loving laughter never come to an end.
Pains of life will ebb and flow,
Friendships' bond may heave and grow.
My friends, so close or miles so vast,
these bonds are firm and made to last!
Those are all the WiseWords I have on this gorgeous sunny Sunday morning.
WiseMóna
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