Talk To Your Friends

Daisy and Donald may be considered a couple, but you know what? I think they are also very good friends. They have been friends for a good many years, have smoothed out the bumps along the way, and would probably stand up for one another in any argument.

I've been thinking a lot about friendship this past weekend. A longtime, good friend of mine died Friday morning of an aneurysm. So unexpected and such a shock to her family and friends. She went to bed on Thursday night just like always, woke up Friday morning and never even had time to leave her bedroom before the tragedy occurred.

And so friendship has taken a major place in my thoughts these last couple of days. I asked myself why I'd never told her how much I admired her for so many qualities? We laughed together, commiserated over other friends' problems, dined together, played cards together, chatted on the phone for a lot of years. But not once did I tell her all the reasons I cared about her as a friend. I didn't tell her how much I admired the way she entertained others, the intelligent thoughts she had on world affairs and politics, or her ability to laugh at so many things that others might only shake their heads about. I admired the fact that a stay-at-home mom took it upon herself later in life to get a master's degree and ended up teaching at the college level until she retired long past the normal retirement age.

So, instead of talking about our writing world today, let me suggest that you let your good friends know how much they mean to you. Let them know what it is that you admire about them. Do it before there is no time left in which to do so. If it's too difficult to say it in person, write it down and send it to them.