"Friendly" Encounters-Day 55

Good morning, and happy Thursday. I hope your day is filled with happiness, joy, peace and love.

Many people asked about friends quite frequently. But I always tell people the same thing. I do not have many friends, I have many acquaintances. As I do not call everyone that I speak and associate with..."my friend".

When I was a young girl, growing up in Detroit, Michigan, I had a couple of close friends. One was Rhonda P. She was tall and lankey, but she was my best friend. In fact, when I left my father's house, at 17, she "ran away" with me. We made our new journey into the world of "independence" together. She did not want me to be alone when I made this departure, so she decided, she would come with me. Rhonda and I did everything together, and we talked about everything. I trusted her with my life, and she trusted me. We were honest with eachother, so this meant that we did not agree on everything, but we had respect for eachother's opinions.

I am unsure what has happened to Rhonda. I would love to see and speak with her. We lost contact about five years or so, after we left our families homes.

I had another childhood friend, her name is Kim. I have known Kim since I was five(5) years old. We grew up together in Detroit, Michigan, and we stayed friends through the years. Kim is my oldest son's Godmother. Kim and I did everything together. We would go to night clubs, knowing we were only 19/20 and try to convince the bouncers at the "21 and over clubs" to let us in because we "are the prettiest ladies in the place". Most times, it did not work but, at least, we tried.:)

Kim and I would exchange clothes. Sometimes, I did not want to wear her clothes because they had an "odor". I would share this with Kim and she would get mad at me. But I was telling her the truth because she was my friend, and I would much rather her hear that her clothes had an odor from me than a male, or anyone else, for that matter.

Kim and her family lived across the stree from my family's abode. They has lots of "roaches" in their home. When I would come over to her home, I would actually bring "Raid", with me. I told Kim several times that she needed to "exterminate" her house. "There are too many roaches", I would tell her. But I was honest and Kim eventually took my advice, and had her house sprayed, but the roaches eventually returned. Kim did not exterminate regularly. I hated going in her home. I entered cautiously.

But what is a friend? This term is used so loosely today.

Friend-a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

Acquaintance-a person known to one, but usually not a close friend.

A friend is someone you expect to be completely honest, even when it hurts. A friend can be as close in our heart as some of our very own family members, even more, under some circumstances. I know I can personally vouch for this. I was closer to my friends mentioned above than I was to some of my sisters. This is true.

If a friend cannot be blunt honest with you, and tell you what you NEED to hear and not what you want to hear, the friendship is NOT genuine. I need good people around me, not "yes" people. Yes people are people that will agree with just about anything you say and do just to be in your good favor. I want friends to tell me the truth, even when it hurts.

Wh are my closest friends now? My son and my daughter. I can speak to both of them about almost anything. We talk like friends, but as I tell my children, I am still their mother.

But who are your friends? Are they really friends in the true meaning of the word?

Have a wonderful day, and please let me hear from you. I encourage your feedback.

L. for Love