A Friend is a Friend, is a Friend, is a Friend

A Friend is a Friend, is a Friend, is a Friend

What is a friend? I’ll tell you. It is a person with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can go naked with him. He seems to ask you to put on nothing. Only to be what you really are. He does not want you to be better or worse. When you are with him, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on guard. You can say what you think, so long as it is genuinely you. He understands those contradictions in your nature that cause others to misjudge you. With him you breathe free – you can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities, and in opening them up to him they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of his loyalty.

He understands. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse him, neglect him, tolerate him. Best of all, you can keep still with him. It makes no difference. He loves you. He is like fire that purges all you do. He is like water that cleanses all that you say. He is like wine that warms you to the bone. He understands. You can weep with him, laugh with him, pray with him.

Through and underneath it all he sees, knows and loves you. A friend, I repeat, is one with whom you dare to be yourself.

This definition of a friend comes from an unknown author. I found it in the 1975 Farmers’ Almanac.

I will add a question and an answer to it.  Do you have just such a friend? I do, and it is my husband of fifty-nine years.

Food Facts

Friday, May 11^th is National Eat What You Want Day.

I don’t know who dreams up these ‘odd’ national whatever days, but I’m really looking forward to this one. I’m sitting here at my desk drinking a chocolate milk shake as I write this. I call that a good example of Eat What You Want Day, even though I’m a few days early. Who knows what gourmet treats I will have on Friday.

 Speaking of food, sometimes you find yourself in a quandary about the proper way to eat certain food when dining out. Here are a few tips from my blog post Etiquette Boo Boos:

If the salad leaves are too large, cutting lettuce is perfectly okay. Use your knife and then request a clean knife to use on the main course.

Living Life to the Fullest

by Lois Jamieson

 “You cannot make life longer, however you can make life larger and bigger”

-        Yuan

I love this quote, especially now that I’m in my 80s. When I was 75 I started a new volunteering career. Since that time my life had not been made longer, but it is larger.

I had to take a BIG step to turn to working at a school for at-risk kids in a crime ridden area of the city. I started as volunteer librarian and then branched out to starting an etiquette/Fashion class for the high school girls, followed by an etiquette class for the lower grade girls. I have shopped for good used books, read to all ages, and become friends with wonderful kids - I call them kids without stuff.

Hurdles - The Perils and Joys of Aging

by Phoebe Maurer

Aging is multifaceted. Sometimes we needlessly worry.

Just last week I was scheduled for a CT scan with iodine that should take 2 ½ hours.

My anxiety had increased when I arrived for the test. I was full of questions. Will it really take that long and what about the iodine? To my surprise I was told, “It will only take 5 minutes and you do not need the iodine. Next I was scheduled to have a pulmonary procedure which turned out to be equally as simple. What a waste of time worrying. That is the peril of aging.

Volunteering, a Way of Life

by Lois Jamieson

I’ve been told that this is National Volunteer Week. I don’t know who in the government sits around dreaming up all these special days, weeks, months. But I do know that this one is very dear to my heart.

Volunteering, as a way of life, is a wonderful way to help yourself by giving your precious time to others in need. When you reach out to the person, animal or organization that is requesting your help, it makes you feel good. If you are a “senior”, say over 65, volunteering is a way to stay young. I know that I receive many blessings from volunteering at StarShine Academy.

HERE ARE SOME NEW QUOTES FOR YOU

by Lois Jamieson

Inspirational

“The ultimate of being successful is the luxury of giving yourself the time to do what you want to do.”
- Leontyne Price

“Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know that, so it goes on flying anyway.”
-Mary Kay Ash

“Dreams ae renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born."
-Dr. Dale Turner

More Thinking Out Loud

By Loys Gilley Bolduc

Last week my friend, Lois Jamieson called to see how I was doing. In the course of the conversation she reminded me I had not contributed to her blog, Ageless at 80, in a while. She jolted my memory.

I’ve been busy celebrating my 88th birthday. I call it my unique birthday. Why? Look at the number 88. It is the same right side up or upside down, right to left and left to right.

I had a great birthday and I’m ready to stop celebrating and get on with other important tasks. How about if I start with writing something for Lois’ blog?