FRIENDS FOREVER...MAYBE

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night, and since I couldn't sleep, I decided to write a blog. After trying for an hour and still not being able to access blogspot, I went to GoogleHelp and, with a sigh of relief, was thrilled to discover it wasn't my computer after all. It was a Google thing.

Not that I was happy about a Google thing, but hey...better than being a my computer thing.

So, since I was up I called the Guv in Canada. That was the second time I called her yesterday. The first time was to get some information I needed for the book I'm writing, 'Emma Shelby is No More'.

Chick-chak, as we say here, she found the info and emailed it off to me. Then, ten minutes later she phoned me. A daughter of a close friend is sick and needs prayers. So, for any of you out there who could and would, please add Shira bat Pnina to your list. THANKS.

I think it was the third or fourth phone call that night when we started talking about friends and friendships.

Such a precious, delicate thing a friendship is. A kind of marriage between two souls that needs to be cared for and nurtured and trusted.

When I was growing up my Dad AH told me that if I could count three people my friend, I would be lucky. Heck, I answered and began counting off on both hands the people I considered my friend.

Today I have a couple here in Israel and a couple back there over the big water.

You know the kind of friends...you don't hear from them in a while and as soon as you pick up the phone, you continue on as if no time in the world had passed. The kind of friend who sees you naked and still thinks you're perfect. The kind of friend, who when you are in trouble hurts for you and tries to figure out a solution along with you.

I had another friend here in Jerusalem. For over twenty years we were friends. Then, about a year and a half ago, something happened. All of a sudden every time we spoke on the phone she found fault with what I was saying. Every time we met for dinner we ended up sparring verbally.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not a person to take lightly into a confrontation. My Cancer sun backs off and my Leo ascendant pushes forward along with my Pisces moon, that never forgets anything (good or bad) and I don't even need to have the last word for you to know I won.

But, the good thing is that my same Cancer sun and Pisces moon make me back off and avoid that confrontation in the first place. I would rather say I'm sorry, I didn't mean to whatever, than begin the verbal fisticuffs in the first place.

So, I backed off. And backed off. And she advanced. And changed the rules. Now she added rules and if I didn't follow the new rules, then I wasn't a friend. In case you were wondering, yes she's a Virgo!

Like a Weeping Willow Tree, I began to bend and sway with the wind. But, whatever I did, it wasn't good enough. Last month she wrote me an email and informed me that since I am not doing what needs to be done in order to maintain this friendship, that she now understands that I am no longer interested in maintaining it.

Twenty-five years down the toilet.

I have a lot to say. But I have learned that the other side has to be interested in listening before I waste my time and energy.

My friend Rena told me that some place she read that friendships can last for a week, a month, a year, or forever. And sometimes when they have finished their purpose they disappear.

So, to all my friends, both old and new...thanks for being there and for sharing my journey. Bring a sandwich and a diet coke...with God's help, we've got a long way yet to go!

I received a cute email last week. Two pussycats hugging and underneath was written:

You and Me is friends
You smile, I smile
You hurt, I hurt
You cry, I cry
You jump off a bridge
I gonna miss your E-mails!

Shavuah tov.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.