Friends are Friends Forever....

On this Thursday I am thankful for friends and friendships that weather it all.

This song from Michael W. Smith and I go way back.  Way back to the summer of 1993, when I was 15 years old and traveling the country with the Phantom Regiment and was delighted that I had 31 older sisters to share my days and nights with.  Sometimes before we would perform we would gather in a circle, someone would turn up the boom box and we would hold hands and sing this song.  Yeah, it writes like it was really cheesy, but it was actually special and when I hear that song it takes me back there.

Except, the last time I heard the song was at the funeral of a 28 year old friend who died last month.  And hearing it in the church, amongst mourners and tears - rocked me. 

So, I want to give a big shout out and a happy hallelujah to my girlfriends.  The ones from my PR days that still write and still care.  The ones that gather together when we have lost one of our own with words of comfort and happy memories.  There is such a bond there from all the hours, days, and years we spent together and although we don't see each other, the bond is always there.

And, then there is my Cheeto (that's my nickname for her and she probably loves that I wrote it on the interwebs) who taught me how to do do a penny drop in the sixth grade, and taught me how to do a bicycle kick freshman year.  Who understood when I stopped seeing her all.the.time. because I was wrapped up in boyfriend mistake #1.  Who stood up for me at my wedding.  Who knows every secret I've ever held.  Who always forgives me when I make a mistake.  Who I love like she is kin.

And, then there is the original SRQ crew.  The crew of girls that built a friendship at the beach and over way too many drinks. The kind of friends that will sit with you in the ER for hours and somehow make it fun.  The kinda friends that come over to watch your kid, so that you can mow the yard, when your hubby is out of the country.  The kind of friends that you bring lunch to when they are on bed rest, and the kind of friends that you just know, that no matter what hills are in front of you, one day you'll climb them and you'll do it together.

And then everyone needs to have at least one friend that doesn't bullshit, that sticks up for what's right.  Who yields tattoos, drives a Harley, and damn near throws down with strangers that insult your kid.  Yeah, I'm so thankful for her and the way she keeps me sane and straight, and it just helps that our kids are the best.friends.ever. 

And, then there are my two girls, who I can't even put parameters on their friendships.  They are the two that I cry with when they cry.  That always know why I feel the way I do, they get me in the way that my momma gets me. 

So, in my 30+ years of life, I've learned that life is fuller because of my friends.  That different friends bring different treasures to life and that each one is beautiful and special and uplifting in their own unique way.  Gone are the days of childhood, when you had your one BFF, and you traded broken heart necklaces and that was that, and all you needed.  Because, now in my adult life, I find that the world is a richer place because of the qualities of the different people I surround myself with. 

And, one day.  I hope my girls have this kind of friendship in each other.

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends