“New Friends” © R.L. Herron
Friends come in all shapes, sizes and genders.
Sometimes, like in the picture above, they even come in the form of different species. All it takes is a modest amount of trust, some empathy and a generous helping of plain old-fashioned respect.
Although I see neighborhood and childhood friends often and enjoy their company immensely, I went to lunch with old friends from work yesterday, something I haven’t done in a while.
It felt good to reconnect and exchange a lot of “what we’re doing now” information. We spent quite a while talking and reminiscing after the actual lunch had come and gone.
After we all said our goodbyes and departed, I had about thirty minutes alone in the car to reflect on our gathering.
I realized what so many people have said over the years was true. When you retire, you don’t miss the work, you miss the camaraderie. You miss the people.
Even if you didn’t always see eye-to-eye, the interaction you once enjoyed with all these individuals was stimulating and special, even if you didn’t realize it at the time.
It’s an odd thing about growing older.
Realization can feel like a blossoming of the brain cells you’ve been trying to build for so long. It isn’t really like that; wisdom doesn’t suddenly blossom. But simple insight sometimes does.
I know, just as everyone does, none of that is true for everyone.
Some people, myself included, have subjects about which they never seem to get any smarter, no matter how long they’ve had time to try, or how often they get to practice.
However, given the right circumstances, people and things can sometimes seem to fall into place in new ways, and it’s funny how often that can feel like wisdom.
The kind that recognizes the words are finally there, not to be ignored, but not necessarily needing to be spoken, either.
I have a lot of faith in my fellow man, perhaps because I’ve always been hopelessly optimistic about just about everything.
Although I think I’ve understood it for a long time, I’m finally beginning to appreciate the cadence, passion and rhythm friends can add to life in general.
It feels good.
Painting With Light 
June 26, 2010 at 12:27 am |
Choose your friends carefully… That was always a watchword when I was younger. As I’ve aged (disgracefully? – who can tell?), I’ve come to realise that you don’t always get the best advice on the subject of friends. While it’s true that “You’d best go expecting anything”, what I’ve found is that you meet some of the nicest friends in the most unexpected places, and often those places turn out to be on your doorstep.
Maybe we’ve mellowed. Maybe our barriers have been replaced by common sense tinged with humanity. I’d like to think so…
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June 23, 2010 at 3:50 pm |
My two dogs and I walk every morning and greet our neighbors. We feel happy when we know all of our friends are out and about and are also enjoying their walks! Makes me smile and the two good dogs wag their tails!
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June 23, 2010 at 3:39 pm |
Well put, Ron…..I think.
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