"Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life." -Unknown
How great is this quote? Who is your best friend? Was there a time that he or she was really there for you? I always say that if we have 1 or 2 TRUE friends in this life than we are beyond blessed. Difficult times will teach us who are true friends really are. Sometimes we are surprised by the lengths our friends are willing to go to for us and unfortunately, sometimes we are disappointed. Have you ever had someone you thought was a really good friend turn their back on you? Do you know what ruined the recipe or were you left to keep guessing?
I lost my life long best friend to cancer 4 years ago. I'll never forget sitting in my car in her driveway praying to God to let me get through this. I had not seen her in 5 years and I knew that she was close to death. I walked in and saw her with a Christmas gown on and those circulation knee high socks on. Hair was about an inch long replacing the waist long beautiful hair she had in high school. Her skin was dark like she had roasted herself in the sun. She looked at me like "Can you believe this?" I still have an ache in my heart that I didn't call and check on her more often. We lived in different cities and I just didn't take the time to do it. I am still so ashamed of myself. I did however teach me a wonderful lesson to honour and treasure your friendships. They can be something as simple as a short phone call to say I miss you! I have a wonderful best friend right now that goes to the ends of the earth for me. i.e. taking me to Australia and New Zealand. She is one of the greatest treasures in my life and we always make time for one another. I just want to encourage your readers to take time for your friends. They may not always be here.
ReplyDeletexo!
kendall
Living an ocean apart form my family (parents, cousins etc..) I am incredibly blessed to have the best friends in the world. My true frienships started in college, and to these days, i am so close to these friends, men and women. they are my american family an intricate part of my life. there is not a week end that passes without being with one of my friends.. i have my adventurous friend with whom I travel the world in search of the tallest mountains to tackle, the hardest treks to go on... my soulmate girlfriend with whom I stay at least one night every month just to catch up the night away...My husband is a lucky man, as my girlfriends have gone through divorces, and a typical sunday summer lunch would have my husband at the head of the table surrounded by very attractive, fun loving women... fortunately, I have nerver experience the poisonous betrayal of a friend.
ReplyDeleteOh yes. I still hurts to find out who your true friends really ARE NOT, but one of the many blessings of growing OLDER is that you learn to cope with it. To continue the wonderful analogy of the recipe, you just simply have to adjust your recipe. I have come to find that friends are the most important investment you can have for WE ARE ALL WE'VE GOT.
ReplyDeleteThese are splendid photos my dear....I wonder, I JUST WONDER if those two blonds in the first photo are someone we all know and love.......?
You are a treasure sweet one. Anita
My husband is my best friend, as is my mother and daughter - I am very lucky. I also have 2 childhood friends who continue to bless my life. We also have our "couple" best friend who we get together with every week, our cup overflows. I have also had (and do now) dogs who have been as close to me as any human friend :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with that qoute more! Yes my best friend in the world is someone I consider my sister. It's wonderful getting to age with her and knoow her more deeply. She has been there for me through thick and thin and someone I could never live without. Unfortunately I know the other side too, someone who only pretened to be my friend to only take advantage. Shame people can't be real all of the time and are only there for you when it suits them. Love this post and love my best friend with all my heart.
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Debra~
My 5 BFs and I have been friends for 16 years...we have all been through good times and bad, and have all grown together and supported each other throughout...I love them like sisters and couldn;t imagine my life without them :)
ReplyDeleteLove the recipe! So true :)
ReplyDelete~Karen
http://fashionboardconfessional.blogspot.com
I love the recipe Debby. True friends are so important in life.
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday Hun xoxo
http://www.intotheblonde.com/
Trying times certainly bring the real fiends to the forefront. Sad to find out who isn't a true friend, but it frees up space for the true ones.
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday, Debby.
Teresa
xoxo
I have indeed lost friends over the years. Mostly when my adopted son was small. Most of my friends didn't have little kids then. He was a bit much for most to handle. But it was okay, I didn understand.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend from high school was one I could always count on. A few years ago she became really distant. She lives in FLorida and I live in Ohio. She swears that it's just because she is busy and has said that her son hurt her deeply. She never missed a birthday. I don't hear from her unless I call. I really miss her.
I have lost dear friends that have passed on.....early ages. That is really hard.
Now this year two of my best friends have moved far away. It is depressing that so many are gone in one way or another.
((((HUGS)))))
those wood floors in the kitchen are fabulous
ReplyDeletebrett
I love my friends, but I live such a chaotic life I know I'm not a very good one. Oh man, I need to give some of my friends a call. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, powerful post. I do not know how I would have gone through my challenges in the last few years if I did not have Gigi to laugh and cry with. She is a gift to me! New friends made on the blogs are gifts as well! I cherish each walk of life old and new and the new friends which come and go. Rather than lament over the ones lost...rejoice in the ones who are by our side when we need them.
ReplyDeleteSo true!! Great girlfriends are one of life's greatest blessings. I am so fortunate to have a group of four friends that live near me. One of their husbands named us "The Hen's". We have 16 children between us and we always say - "it takes a village"! We are always there for each other from emergency school pick ups to birthday celebrations and every little and big life event along the way. I moved away for a year and missed them terribly. Being back now, I'm so much happier and feel I have such a full life because of my family and friends. In the past five years they have been my rocks. They supported me through a divorce, the breakup of a long term relationship, the passing of both my parents and countless days of tears. In those past five years we've also had much to celebrate and toast with a glass of chard. On Saturday they will all come to my house after a spa day for a slumber party!! I'm also blessed with my dear friend Debbie from college. She lives in another state but we talk almost daily. She is like a sister!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful quote Debby. I think if we have one or two true friends.. we are blessed. Good friends are hard to find and friendship between women is so important to our well being :)
ReplyDeleteHow true Debbie, I just had such a day today, with a dear friend I have know since we were in training in the hospital together. I have been blessed with several true friends, we support each other in good times and bad, and I agree with Leslie, paramount for us women, our gal pals are! N.xo
ReplyDeleteMy best friends are my husband, my sister and my cousin. I am very blessed to have them. My sister and I fought quite a bit growing up but as I got older and matured, we got along better and over the last 15 years or so we have been best friends. I only get to see my cousin once a year or so (I will actually get to see her tomorrow! can't wait!), we live in different cities 6 hours apart but we have been close since childhood and we email pretty much every day. I have other friends I have known since childhood/teens whom I don't see that often but we keep in touch on facebook and when we see each other in person, we pick up where we left off. Hubs and I have our "couple" best friends, we try to get together once a month.
ReplyDeleteI have experienced the other side, of someone not being there for me, or me making the mistake of making the friendship out to be more than it was. I've learned to let people go, if people want you in their life, they will make time for you.
So true! I love sharing my day with my friends. Even boring little details. I can't imagine life without my good friends. How sad to not be able to confide, share and yes disagree. It's okay to disagree, right? :)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Loi
I LOVE this post and it was so creatively executed! When you have real friends you don't need a therapists! Wish you, my friend, a fabulous night!
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Sharon
My best friend is really more like my sister. She lives in NY and she is always there for me, no matter what. Eleven years ago when my Nana passed, she was there at the airport to pick me up when I flew in from TX and she drove me to Massachusetts and held my hand through the funeral. I flew from Ireland to NY to be there when she had her little boy. She was my maid of honor at my wedding and then the following year was there again when my father passed.
ReplyDeleteIt's been 17 years since we lived in the same state (17!) and nine since we lived in the same country, but we are always there for each other when we need to be, and it never matters how much time has passed since we talked or saw each other. She's my rock. x.
Aww this is so true. I have a few friends that are really good friends and they are supportive and have been with me through everything (something I need right about now!)
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living
LOve love love this post. True friendships are a treasure! The recipe is priceless...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post, Debby! Really true friends seem hard to find sometimes. I don't always get it right, but at the end of my life I would like to know that I made a contribution to the world of being a true friend to someone or maybe several someone's.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Keri