Friendship – nastran andersen

Who is on your island?

It’s a question my husband and I have asked each other before, usually over a glass of wine and if we’re lucky, in front of a fire. We first broached this topic late last summer, one of those what-if topics like “What you would do if you won the lottery?” Or another fun question for automotive enthusiasts – “If you had one million dollars and were allowed to spend it only on cars, what would you buy?” It started simply enough, on the heels of the lottery conversation; fantasizing about being so wealthy as to have your very own island and the ability to invite anyone you wish to live on the island as well. The island could be large or small, it could be rustic and undeveloped or feature every luxury imaginable. Your people might live nearby and you would enjoy seeing them every day. Or you may want to see them only once in a while but they still need to be there, so you must relegate them to the other end. It doesn’t have to be a tropical island, it could be in any sort of climate that you wish. It’s your island, you make the rules. We had a good laugh putting some family members who shall remain nameless on the other side of the island, and even cast some of our friends after the characters on Gilligan’s Island and Fantasy Island. But the lighthearted chat for us turned into a much more reflective dialog; who do you choose and why? Read More…

by Nastran

Transition

Life has a way of throwing curveballs. You think you’re prepared, in a ready stance and watching for the fast pitches to come in on their regular cadence. And generally you hit those, sometimes even knock it out of the park. But a curve is different, it’s slower and it drops when you least expect it. Sometimes you’ll see it right before it happens, but by then it’s too late and you know it’s a miss. Just when you’re settling in and feeling confident about hitting the fastballs, the Great Comedian decides to mix things up to keep your game interesting, maybe even teach you a couple of things along the way. Last week I was thrown a curveball.

The Gift of Friendship

Friendship is a beautiful part of the human experience, an enrichment of our souls. The ability to connect and share your genuine self with another person is all at once vulnerable and immensely gratifying. As I’ve grown into an adult and grown up as a friend, my friendships are more important to me than ever, my true friends rare treasures to be cherished.