Because You've Got to Have Friends

I would like to point out that many of you have developed friendships with people over this space aged thingy that they call the Internet.  Great friendships, but private ones for the most part; your friends & family may not be aware of your very good long distance friends.  

In light of one of my very good friends recent experience, having her house blasted nearly apart by a tornado, I felt that I should encourage people to have some sort of emergency notification buddy who would, in the event of the unimaginable, be willing to send a note to your long distance peeps so that they know if something has indeed happened, rather than just an open ended disappearance from online.  No one wants one of their friends to be missing.

My dear Annie showed just why I love her, & I do, for when I called to see how she was, her reply was "well I don't live in the woods anymore".  Her unbelievable sense of humour having close to 100 of her 40 year old trees uprooted lets me know she'll be just fine.  A major remodel to plan, cats & 'coons to keep her busy & smiling & wonderful neighbours chipping in.  Who wouldn't for such a wonderful woman!!  Glad you are safe love!!

How can I not drive down with my guitar for Anniestock now???

Happy Holidays

Hmmm.  Happy Holidays.  This is something I tend to write, or speak, rather than Merry Christmas.  I was at the bookstore last night & overheard a girl tell her friend "it offends me when people say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas".  Offends?  Really?  Wow.  I'd imagine there is a whole list of other things that offends this person in life.

I think that if anyone takes the time to acknowledge that there is a holiday approaching, or that you are in the midst of, & they include you in their good wishes, you should just say thank you and appreciate that there are people still in the world who would stop & offer a stranger a kind word.

Perhaps the words Merry Christmas hold a bad memory for a person, or they are not celebrating Jesus' birthday, or maybe the holidays might truly suck for a person but they are bringing up all that they can muster to not appear that this may be the hardest week in their year.  No one knows what any other person is truly dealing with.  One of the most impressive, & deceiving, things that us human beings wear is a smile.  It is truly one of the most concealing things that we own.

My point is, just give people a break.  Life is short, & there are enough people that will be rude to you or ignore you. Cherish the moments when a stranger takes the time to treat you like a human being despite their own feelings or situation.

And then try to do the same for someone else.