A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same ~ Elbert Hubbard
If you read my last post here you already know that I’ve been struggling a little bit to get back on track. (Thanks by the way to all of you who commented with your pearls of wisdom).
One of the best ways I know of getting back on track is to reconnect with the important people in my life.
I got this opportunity on Sunday with a handful of friends that I’ve known for 20+ years but haven’t seen for about two years.
There’s no one like my old friends.
They already know me.
They know all my strengths.
They know all my flaws.
And they still love me.
And the feeling is quite mutual.
After almost two years abroad, George and Annie are in Canada again for a quick stopover before they go off trotting the globe again.
I’ve been anticipating their return for some time and was anxious to hear about their journey (physical and spiritual) over the last couple of years.
Another old friend, Kelly picked me up at my place on Sunday afternoon to drive the 1 hour and 8 minutes into rural Alberta to visit George and Annie. They are staying with yet some other old friends, Bob and Mo whom I also haven’t seen in some time.
Wait did I say it was an hour and 8 minutes drive?
That’s what Map Quest indicates.
But we were there in 45 minutes!
Kelly’s fast – but she’s an excellent driver!
Our drive there provided Kelly and I the opportunity to catch up on each other’s lives and the mountains and clear sunny sky made a beautiful backdrop for our trip.
At Bob and Mo’s we quickly fell into step and the conversation was freely flowing as if time and distance had never separated us. We laughed at the funny things others shared and we sympathetically listened to the hard things some had endured.
And then we reminisced about the good old days when we were in our twenties…
about the stupid things we did
about the things that changed us forever
the hard times
and the good times.
Another old friend, Kathy showed up after work and made our time together even more precious.
It’s funny. 20+ years have gone by. Our kids are grown and some of them have kids of their own.
Yet we all agreed that we wouldn’t want to be 20 again.
We’ve come a long way and we feel good about who we are today.
After a wonderful meal of hamburgers, smokies, green salad, potato salad, chocolate cake and ice-cream a few of us took a walk as the sun was setting on a perfect summer’s day spent with good friends.
Yes, there’s no one like my old friends. They already know me.
They know all my strengths.
They know all my flaws.
And they still love me.
And the feeling is quite mutual.
I still haven’t figured out what is ‘off’ in my life, but having spent some time with my old friends, it hardly seems that important anymore. Perhaps I just needed to reconnect and get grounded again.
When is the last time you connected with the important people in your life?
slapppshot said:
Isn’t that what Facebook’s for? That way, we wouldn’t have to socialize irl…and miss out on wonderful afternoon get-togethers like you’ve documented and told us about. All you’d need would be an FB update from one of your friends and you’d almost feel like you’d been part of it all 🙂 Strange isn’t it?
A most wonderful afternoon of relaxation and catching up it seemed…one of those days that’ll go down as a recent fave?
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes an absolute favourite! Summer is so conducive to these types of days. 🙂 Had another great day with another wonderful friend today and at the end of the afternoon ran into another person I hadn’t seen in forever….I love it!
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Andrea Kelly said:
Old friends really are great to reconnect with from time to time. I’ve just recently reconnected with a few of mine, and there really is nothing better than being around people who KNOW and LOVE you for you 🙂 Glad you got to enjoy some time with a group like that!
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dianasschwenk said:
I’m glad too! for you and for me. 🙂
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Gina's Professions for PEACE said:
Thanks for sharing about the great times enjoyed with true friends. So glad it helped with helping you feel grounded again. I really appreciate you sharing about what you were going through because it helps me feel less alone in those times when I go through a rare ‘blue funk’. Cheers!
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dianasschwenk said:
Knowing others go through funks makes me feel less crazy! Because that’s what I convince myself is going on…..
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Jan Speers said:
Hey Diana!
Do you have an email address?
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dianasschwenk said:
yes, it’s on my about page.
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joannerambling said:
What jumped out at me was the photo on the tank……just saying……..and everyone looked like they were having a great time……….
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dianasschwenk said:
We had an awesome time! There are many tank photos but I only posted the one muuhahahha! Thanks for stopping by Joanne, always like seeing you here. 🙂
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newsofthetimes said:
Glad to hear that connecting with friends helped…that usually works for me, too. I need to do it more and remember that sometimes that is all I need to get out of any funk. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
So true! Why do I always forget that??
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newsofthetimes said:
Me too!!! Let’s make a pact to remind each other frequently. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
OK!!!
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Magnolia Beginnings said:
Just wanted to let you know that I took this chance to share your blog with the people that follow me by nominating you for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award. That, and the fact that I do find your blog inspiring on a regular basis. Please feel free to participate or not.Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
http://www.magnoliabeginnings.org
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you so much. I am honoured!
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Magnolia Beginnings said:
You are more than welcome. Love your blog.
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dianasschwenk said:
As you know, I’m no good at doing what is required to accept an award. But I want to say how much I also love your blog: http://magnoliabeginnings.org/ and I highly recommend it to all my readers! ❤
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Magnolia Beginnings said:
One of the things I love about you is that you’re not likely to do what you’re told to do! I just enjoy the chance to pass on your site.
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dianasschwenk said:
aw shucks – mighty generous of you!
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letty said:
Hey Di,
Count me in as one of those friends! You are a special special person with so many talents!
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dianasschwenk said:
I am honoured to count you in Letty!
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Margot Schwenk said:
Friends are like Pebbles in the sand. Once you found a Pebble you keep it forever.
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dianasschwenk said:
Friends are indeed precious!
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Brigitte said:
D — sounds like the friends came back into your life just when you needed it. Looks like so much fun and glad you were able to reconnect. That itself is certainly a big lift to the spirit, yes?
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dianasschwenk said:
It certainly was. It made me feel so grounded
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jensine said:
maybe it just needs sometime to find and fix but if in the meantime you can have fun that is brill
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes! My thoughts exactly. 🙂
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jensine said:
🙂 … and a glass of wine is always good too
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, it definitely doesn’t hurt. 😉
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jmgoyder said:
Coincidentally I am all of a sudden making the effort to connect with various friends and inviting heaps of them over – it’s great! You are such a tonic and a wise soul and I wish you could come over too!
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dianasschwenk said:
Oh my gosh – that would be something eh? It would be sheer joy to meet you in person!
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billgncs said:
good to see you happy and connected
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dianasschwenk said:
thanks! I guess I’m almost always content…sometimes there’s something nagging but I suppose that’s normal, no? How’s your Star Trek like ‘Borg’ hand doing?
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billgncs said:
i feel the stainless steel has helped my magnetic personality! ( smile )
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dianasschwenk said:
My my aren’t we especially clever this morning…. (laughing)
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billgncs said:
just silly, as usual
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dianasschwenk said:
Perfect. I like it. 😉
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