Hold On to Memories

Greetings, my Lovelies! I know - late last week, early this week. Sometimes, I just have to purge my mind. Screw timelines and deadlines.

I hardly know where to begin this particular blog. Thankful doesn't come close to the feelings that I have when I talk of the enormity of the impact some of my friends have made on my life. I woke this morning with a feeling of nostalgia and found myself reflecting on some of my friendships through the years. Now I sit in my office, unable to work until I get some of these thoughts out of my head, as my concentration is pinging off the walls like Luke trying to shoot his way out of the trash compactor in Star Wars.

I've pointed out many times before that I tend to make strong and lasting friendships. I find that I have to take a moment today and share with you a little about one of those friendships. I met my friend, Tim when we were just kids. We went to school together, had classes together, and had mutual friends. We were complete geeks and got along very well. 

After we graduated we kind of lost touch with each other, but through the magic of Facebook, we were able to reconnect and even though we lived 600 miles apart, we became closer than ever. We'd had some of the same experiences, our children were close in age, and we had many of the same interests. We shared many things with each other and had many long, in-depth discussions.

In May it will be four years since I've spoken to him. Four very long, hard years without him making me laugh. Four years without him teasing me relentlessly. (No, Tim, I'm still not going to put on a Princess Leia costume. ComiCon participants will be grateful.)  Four years of wishing he was still around to see his children grow, and what and who they are becoming. You see, his son recently got engaged and his little girl started kindergarten this year. He has missed so much. Damn it! I wasn't going to cry through this blog, but I can't seem to get through this without the waterworks.

Now, people will tell you that it is extremely rare for opposite genders to be friends and only friends. Some will even say it is impossible, but that truly is what we were. I don't seem to have a problem doing this. I have many male friends who are just that - friends. Now, why am I talking about Tim and friendships today? Well, I never got the chance to thank him for something that he did without even realizing he was doing it.

You see, through Tim, I've met two absolutely incredible men, one of whom I consider one of my best friends. I can tell him anything and most often do. (It's a little scary just how closely our thoughts align at times.) The feelings are reciprocated and I often get an ear full from him, as well. He complains about his job, his wife, and I complain about, well, everything. When we're done complaining, we laugh, because sometimes laughing is all you can do. It's a win/win situation.

The other friend was Tim's roommate at one time. I won him over with my homemade cookies. One bite and he was in love. (With the cookies, not me.) We've known each other for a while now, but have only recently begun to really talk and get to know each other. He too is amazing, and though our chats are usually short and at crazy times due to his work schedule, we also get along very well.

Without Tim, I would never have met these two, and I feel that there would definitely be a void in my life had I not been given the opportunity to get to know them. Introducing me to and sharing his friends with me has helped to keep a part of him alive. It has helped me process his passing, has helped me to heal.

I will forever be grateful. 

I'm blessed with many friends, and even more blessed that many of my friendships tend to lead to new and amazing roads. I hope all of you can look around and count yourselves so lucky.

As always,

Much love from me to you!

Shelly (a/k/a Dawn Love)