I have been extremely fortunate to have amazing friends. I find people fascinating and someone said once I collect people and perhaps I do but not to sit on the shelves. I love interaction with my friends. You may know I am an extrovert. I need people but those who are my friends are especially important to me. I need them in my life and that is likely you, the person reading my blog. I need you and love you!

I feel selfish sometimes wanting all your attention. I am absolutely delighted when I get to have interaction with you. Some of you I have never met in person but we have interacted in some way and there is a connection of some sort. Something ties us together in this great big world of people. I believe we are all connected to one another but we aren’t able to know everyone. That would be overwhelming and difficult. We are meant to know a few wonderful people or many and help each other, love each other and share the journey we call life.

I learn something from everyone I meet but I learn it better when we are friends. I get to see you and hear you. I get to experience you and the wonderful person YOU are. I love that. It means a great deal to me when you share your heart and I hope I show you the respect and love when you do. I think my friends are incredible. You make my life so much better in every way. You lift my spirits, calm my nerves, help me make decisions (although I still don’t always take advice I do hear it) and help me when I need it. I am the luckiest person who gets to know you.

Last Friday I found out a dear friend of mine died. Her name is Traisa. She was my best friend in high school. There were some things I learned about her I did not know, during her celebrarion service. We had not spoken in a couple of months. She was working, packing her house and I was muddling through life here in Sweden. It is always very difficult for me to live with the regret of not being in touch. Because I sometimes live in my own self pity I don’t want to reach out, but always, always glad when someone does reach out to me. When I lose touch with a friend it hurts me. I think of that person still and find myself wondering how they are and wishing them well. They never leave my heart.

And so Traisa is now gone from my realm and I have to wait to hug her in the next. She and I were inseparable during those years. We talked about everything and I knew she had my back. She was fiercely loyal and get her fired up she did not back down. She taught me about tomato soup and macaroni when I needed comfort food, how to drive a stick shift, she was always there when I needed a friend. She helped me with my chores when I put them off so we could go hang out. She stood by the bus as I left for Seattle and signed to me how much she was going to miss me. I will miss her but I have those and more memories and I am grateful for this.

I have a ton of memories like this with all of you. I cherish every single one of them. Each one makes me smile, laugh, cry, or some emotion of love. I appreciate you so much. I care about you more than I show and I love you. I wish every day I could talk to you and see how you are and sometimes I forget. Sometimes I forget to reach out and bask in your gloriousness but I think of you at different times, with different songs, seasons and events. I am so grateful for you my dear friends. Thank you for being a part of my life and sharing yours with me. Thank you Traisa for reminding me I can do a better job and for loving me so fiercely and well. May you rest in peace until we meet again.