Opinion : Old Friends and New Old Friends

This week I got to do something I haven't done in a couple years, catch up with a dear friend.

Now we live a mere 20 minutes apart and you'd think it would be easy to stay in touch, but noooo.

See, she and I both had this weird idea that we would raise a herd of children and be stay at home moms.  Then we decided we enjoyed the children so much that we would homeschool them. 

So a lunch date for us is a rare thing.

Our kids all understand that if Valerie and Dian get together, you might as well plan on seeing them a few hours later. (Well, I say few, but they think more than 2 is an eternity...)

This last lunch date was an odd one.  

We realized that as you get older, and as the kids all grow and leave home, you THINK your life will slow down, and your role as mom will diminish.

Then we figured out that there are 4 generations counting on us to hold it all together and lend a hand where we need to.

I just lost my dad, and now both her dad and mom are starting to age and slow down and needing someone to check in on them.

We discussed our children, what they are up to, then the grandchildren and the husbands and after we got through all the updates, it had been 4.5 hours. We were going to keep going, but I needed to get back to Vinton for practice at the church, and she needed to get home to call her daughter back.

Our chats over the years have covered many deep topics, and gone down all the soul searching questions of "Have we done enough for our kids? Did we choose the right curriculum? Are we being the kinds of wives that our husbands need? Are we attending the right churches? Are the kids involved in all the right activities?"

Then we sprinkle in how to grill pizza and how much it costs for car insurance. 

But one thing is certain that hasn't changed over the years, the deep respect we have for each other. 

Later the same night one of my newer best friends and I went out to discuss other things we were involved in.

While at the restaurant, another of our friends walked in to pick up a carry out order, but she got sidetracked at our table for about a half hour. 

I came home that night feeling all talked out, and Dean did his happy dance.

So many times I get wrapped up in, well life, that I forget to stop and touch base with those outside of my home that I love dearly.

I also felt privileged to have these types of friend that I feel like we could not talk for days, weeks, months, and just pick up where we left off.

Recently I added a new friend to my small loop of close friends, and find that I am enjoying getting to know a gal that feels like an old friend. 

In the process of writing this, I realize it's about time for my once a decade phone call to my friend from Bible College who lives in Kentucky...yes I can remember where we ended that conversation and we need to continue it!

When I look at the events happening around the world, countries are being bombed, terrorists are going crazy on innocent people and well, overall sometimes I just feel like the world in general is going nuts, its good to realize that in my small corner of the world, I can step away from all of the news channels and plug in where it really matters.

The whole point of being here is to help each other. I have found with my dear friends, we've done a lot of crying together, and cheering together and just enjoying the roses.

It all starts with a simple smile sometimes, and a, "Hello!" and who knows, you may have just met your forever friend.