Just Say It

Sometimes the only thing you can say and should say is the exact thing the other person is probably thinking. At the visitation of my old friend's mother's funeral, I said it.

I approach her as she was surrounded by people giving their respect. I knew she was saying all the right things, crying & explaining that her Mother went in peace. The minute I saw her I started to cry. I wanted to be strong, but I couldn't. And in some way I knew that she needed someone else to cry with. I hugged her and then as she was talking more people approached I grabbed her hand and walked over to a different area. We talked about being old friends & her Mom and she said how much she missed her. I told that I would be here with her every step of the way. I reminded her that she would be strong, she always has been, how proud her Mother was of her and how dear she was to her. I told her it would be hard, tomorrow even harder. And it will be difficult until its a little bit easier.
Then I said it. Not the most profound, educated or eloquent thing to say, but I said it. I said, You know what, this sucks. And she agreed. Because it does.

Sometimes that is best. Just to say it like it is.

Old Friends

An old friend's Mother just passed away. As I discussed it with my sister, we both agreed how important those old friends are. The friends you had in your life as a child through your teenage and college years. Time may pass (as with my friend it has been 10 years since I had seen her), but you know that your old friends are there. I can feel you nodding, you are thinking of those people right now.
They will be there and know just what to say when the moment comes that you needs an old friend.

Now with my own children, I am curious out of these friends who will turn into 'old friends'. Without trying to interfere, I am also trying to encourage the friends that I know may cultivate into dear friends.

Grade School Rules

We learn very early in life there are simple rules to live by. Share. Take Turns. Use your words. Be Nice. Most recently I find myself repeating one I learned as a child. Keep your hands and feet to yourself! I don't know what the need is to constantly be touching things. We can't walk through a store without one or all of kids touching every piece of signage or item on the shelf. We don't make it through the day without someone touching or kicking someone else in the family.
So I say, Please keep your hands and feet to yourself!
I find myself repeating throughout the days each of these simple rules.
And as a grown up, I find myself listening, especially to the first few.

Thank You to the person who came up with these rules! (probably a Mom)