Family and Friends

Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted. ~ Paul Pearshall

A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world. ~ Lois Wyse

I got to thinking, yesterday, about family and friends. I know it's been said that your friends are the family you get to choose. I suspect that is correct. I think that much of the time, we take our family for granted. They're family so they have to love us, to be there for us. Right?

Not always so, I think. I had a virtual arguement with a family member yesterday that is still festering. And I consider the fact that I typically hear from them (with one or two exceptions) maybe once a year, if I'm lucky -- and that's if I count the signed Christmas card with no note.

Sometimes that can make me terribly sad. Until I remember that I am rich with friends. I don't have dozens of close friends - I'm not the type of person to surround myself with people. I have one or two people I've known for many years, and they know me and love me anyway (for I am far from perfect). For them, I am truly grateful. My family had no choice but to be stuck with me and each other, and we make due.

But my friends take the time and make the effort to keep in touch, even though my closest friends are nowhere near me anymore. And, I thank God for my friends every day.

Interestingly, my "virtual" friendships with people in the writing community are probably as important to me as my "brick and mortar" friendships. There are several of you, and you know who you are. So thanks.

And thanks for sitting through my sappy introspection :-)