Friendship

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art … It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” C.S. Lewis

Lewis is correct. Friends give value to survival. In my case, they are essential to survival.

Once, after one of my moves as a child, I had no friends for an entire calendar year. As a “people person” this was extremely painful at a time when emotions were magnified times a zillion.

That experience was the start of my learning how to make friends quickly. I knew that I needed friends to survive my teenage years. I also knew that I had no idea how long I would remain in any given city or school. Friends must be made and they must be made immediately.

As a result, I was “real” with people right away. The clock was ticking. There was no time to be wasted on a fake personality or fake friends.

This coping skill continued into adulthood. I have been very thankful that I have lived in the same county since 1994. As a result, there are many close friends and other friends (I don’t make acquaintances) who live relatively close by, but I don’t see regularly. I don’t like it! I miss seeing them.

Towards the end of 2023, I made a decision that, hopefully, will result in seeing more people. I am starting “Coffee with Monica” on Thursday mornings. The way it will work is that on the prior Friday, I will post on social media which city the coffee shop of the week is located. Then, any friends who will be near that area can message me to receive the time I will be at the coffee shop as well as the name of the shop.

It will be a little like an open house where people can stay for as little or as long as they want. I want to catch up on lives, look at pictures of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, pets, and vacation locations. In short, I want to connect, but I don’t like having to schedule a time with someone. Usually, one of us will cancel due to some last minute emergency and then we won’t see each other for years.

My life is much richer because of the people who have been a part of it, even if it was only for a brief amount of time. I enjoy praying for friends when I don’t see them and connecting when I do.

Thursday I will be at a coffee shop in East Cobb. Please message me for times and location. I look forward to seeing you!