I should say "thank you."
This has been the summer of the "mountain".
The mountain refers to the cottage of my childhood. The house where Mom and Dad, boys and I used to go EVERY summer to spend time with our grandparents and just BE.
What did we do there? Well, I remember making mudpies on the lazy susan in the backyard. Sitting on the mossy rocks and pulling the long leaves from fern. I ate fruit with my Aunt Betty on her couch and talked about what she was cooking. I swam in the lake, wearing muddy sneakers ankle deep in muck. I watched leaves blow, turn, shimmer and dapple sunlight on the darkest green grass. I would lie on the hammock waiting for my grandfather to come home from work, then watch him take his nap on the hammock slung between two trees. My Mom would always be awake and beautiful in the morning. Sitting at the kitchen counter sipping coffee, singing along to her radio.
Our Dad worked in NJ the entire summer while we vacationed at the cottage. He would visit on his days off and then he would have two weeks off during the span of time. I don't have many memories of him there. Other than our waiting for the Olympics and watching them outside on a portable black and white TV.
This is where I discovered friendship. The friendships I forged "out the mountain" remain some of the truest most honest people in my life. There is no keeping score, or track of who "tries harder". I think these people understand I have a pretty full plate-as do they.
This summer I have spent alot of time at the cottage with my Mom and Jack. He has enjoyed it and done some new things. We picked blue berries, watched birds and chipmunks with the binoculars. I have revisited really good memories with my Mom and created some new ones as well. We have spent time with Cathy and Ella which is very special for Jack.
What does it mean? I am again a very lucky gal. I have a Mom that I consider a best friend. I have spent time with my daughters as they transition into independent women. I have bonded with old friends and discovered some new.
Interestingly enough I have found that this is the summer to rediscover the definition of friendship.
Being a true loyal friend is not about who called last, or how often. It is about the time you do get together and what keeps bonded. I was so lucky to spend time with my gals from Ann May in Cape may in May. We hadn't seen each other in 25 years. After 5 minutes the years rolled away, the pounds and few wrinkles and scars that were new- just melted away. That is friendship.
I didnt hear anything about...
"why weren't you there for me... then?"
or
"Why haven't you called or texted me in 25 years?"
We hugged, laughed, even cried together to just BE TOGETHER again.
I think there comes a time in life when people grow out of the "what about me." and turn into the "Tell me more about you, and WHY I havent seen or heard from you.?"
I am lucky I have a Mother that I enjoy being with. I have daughters that want to be with me. Friends that don't question or doubt my friendship if life gets crazy. These are things I am grateful for. I have lived the last seven years feeling on the edge. Knowing how fast life comes in and goes out the door. I don't ask for or desire people that keep score, or feel I owe them something...
anything more than I can give at that very moment....
which I always feel is pretty darn good.
Love to my loyal readers.
The mountain refers to the cottage of my childhood. The house where Mom and Dad, boys and I used to go EVERY summer to spend time with our grandparents and just BE.
What did we do there? Well, I remember making mudpies on the lazy susan in the backyard. Sitting on the mossy rocks and pulling the long leaves from fern. I ate fruit with my Aunt Betty on her couch and talked about what she was cooking. I swam in the lake, wearing muddy sneakers ankle deep in muck. I watched leaves blow, turn, shimmer and dapple sunlight on the darkest green grass. I would lie on the hammock waiting for my grandfather to come home from work, then watch him take his nap on the hammock slung between two trees. My Mom would always be awake and beautiful in the morning. Sitting at the kitchen counter sipping coffee, singing along to her radio.
Our Dad worked in NJ the entire summer while we vacationed at the cottage. He would visit on his days off and then he would have two weeks off during the span of time. I don't have many memories of him there. Other than our waiting for the Olympics and watching them outside on a portable black and white TV.
This is where I discovered friendship. The friendships I forged "out the mountain" remain some of the truest most honest people in my life. There is no keeping score, or track of who "tries harder". I think these people understand I have a pretty full plate-as do they.
This summer I have spent alot of time at the cottage with my Mom and Jack. He has enjoyed it and done some new things. We picked blue berries, watched birds and chipmunks with the binoculars. I have revisited really good memories with my Mom and created some new ones as well. We have spent time with Cathy and Ella which is very special for Jack.
What does it mean? I am again a very lucky gal. I have a Mom that I consider a best friend. I have spent time with my daughters as they transition into independent women. I have bonded with old friends and discovered some new.
Interestingly enough I have found that this is the summer to rediscover the definition of friendship.
Being a true loyal friend is not about who called last, or how often. It is about the time you do get together and what keeps bonded. I was so lucky to spend time with my gals from Ann May in Cape may in May. We hadn't seen each other in 25 years. After 5 minutes the years rolled away, the pounds and few wrinkles and scars that were new- just melted away. That is friendship.
I didnt hear anything about...
"why weren't you there for me... then?"
or
"Why haven't you called or texted me in 25 years?"
We hugged, laughed, even cried together to just BE TOGETHER again.
I think there comes a time in life when people grow out of the "what about me." and turn into the "Tell me more about you, and WHY I havent seen or heard from you.?"
I am lucky I have a Mother that I enjoy being with. I have daughters that want to be with me. Friends that don't question or doubt my friendship if life gets crazy. These are things I am grateful for. I have lived the last seven years feeling on the edge. Knowing how fast life comes in and goes out the door. I don't ask for or desire people that keep score, or feel I owe them something...
anything more than I can give at that very moment....
which I always feel is pretty darn good.
Love to my loyal readers.
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