"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive.": Anais Nin
Though I've always been someone who has made friends easily, acknowledging how much value each friend adds to my life can never be overdone. How about you? If you could rewind your tape, would you do as I wish I could and make sure every friend you've ever had knew for sure "...a world was born when they arrived?"
It's fitting that Anais Nin's words came to me many months ago via a friend who reads my blog enough to know how little treasures like this often find their way into my reflections. After thanking her for sending me the quote, I copied the words into my blog journal with little idea how they might later be useful.
But my life is rich with friends. Months later, a different friend suggested a visit to Swaminarayan Akshardham in nearby Robbinsville, N.J. Although I had heard of this Hindu mandir (temple) - the second largest in the world - had this friend not suggested a trip there, I might never have visited it. I was awed by its majesty, ennobled by the history, and grateful for my friend's suggestion. I think I remembered to thank her and made a note in my blog journal about the experience.
The most recent link to Nin's words then occurred to me soon after returning from guitar camp at the end of August. I was perusing my blog journal and catching up with e-mail when I noticed one from another friend. This friend has been sending me great music links and lectures by trenchant cultural critics for many years. I knew it was past time to acknowledge how our long friendship has aided my development as a musician and a thinker. I wrote a torturously lengthy e-mail doing exactly that. Inspiring words, ennobling experiences, transcendent music & incisive social commentary; a few of the worlds that might not possibly have been born had these friends never arrived. Thank you all.
Pat - of course your life is "rich with friends." You are a wonderful person: smart, funny, thoughtful, a good listener, interested in learning/hearing new things, eager for new experiences, have a passion for music and books, and you are a loving husband and father. All the best 'friend' qualities! Scott's life and mine have been truly enriched having you and Kim as our dear friends. We love you. XOXOXOXO
ReplyDeleteNot-so-anonymous; Thanks for the comment, the generous words about me, and for acknowledging the 20+ year solid friendship the four of us have cultivated. We love you right back. (Forgive me for leaving out the XO stuff - reminds me of tic tac doe.)
DeleteHey Pat,
ReplyDeleteLike you, I also consider myself someone who makes friends easily. But, over the years, there have been few that I would consider to be, or to have been, close friends. I've read - and I am paraphrasing as I cannot remember where I read it or who it was that first wrote it - 'A true friend is someone you can go days, weeks, months, even years, without seeing and the closeness remains'. I've been fortunate to have some of those in my life and for more years than seems possible at times.
I have a sign in my den that a friend gave me many (many, many) years ago that reads: 'A good friend is one who will come and bail you out but a True Friend will be sitting next to you saying 'Damn, That Was Fun'. Although it never actually came to that (thankfully - lol) I often look at the sign and smile, remembering that true friend.
Another wonderful post that brought back wonderful memories. Thanks for that. Oh, and the Swaminarayan Akshardham is less than 10 minutes from where I live. Although not having been able to go inside yet - but I definitely plan to - the outside is breathtaking.
Be well,
Bob
Hey Bob; Thanks for all your comments today. In this one I especially appreciate the sentiment in the second paragraph re "Damn That Was Fun." Be sure to make a visit to that temple; well worth it.
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