Long Time Friends

We sing a song at Perkins Chapel called "Long Time Friends." We sing it to God, who is certainly the longest time friend we all have. Long time friends in other people, however, are often hard to come by.

As a philosophy major I learned that people become friends because of usefulness, pleasure, or goodness. Useful friends are the ones who have what you need at the time, I suppose. A study buddy, a work friend... sometimes even relationships that seem deep are merely one person using the other for company, as a warm body to talk to. Pleasure friendships make me think of those people you love to be around because they are so much fun. My friends in the knitting store in Nyack were like this-- we shared a common interest, swapped stories and advice-- even though we all came from different walks of life.

Now truly good friendships are few and far between, the kind of bond where you see the goodness in the other person and love them even if they stop being useful or fun. I only have a few good, longtime friends. They all live far away, but we still keep in close contact. In fact the distance between us has only proved that our common goals and love for each other are the base of our bond rather than convenience or good times. Friendships that spring from utility or pleasure are not bad, but I am thankful for those longtime friends who let me love them as they are and love me just as I am.

No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow. -Alice Walker

...And One More Thing.

We had a nice 4th of July. After watching the end of the Wilmore parade, the 3 of us headed down to the camp meeting for 25 cent hot dogs and cheap Ale 8 accompanied by Ryan and daughter Morgan. It drizzled on and off. After hanging out with our friends for a bit we watched Punch Drunk Love (my first time, I thought it was very funny).

We ordered BBQ chicken from Sonny's for dinner and our whole crew ate together, played some croquet and Apples to Apples, roasted marshmallows, passed the babies around, and had some laughs. After dark we watched the fire works from a distance and lit sparklers (thanks Mom and Dad). Tomorrow a bunch of us ladies are venturing out for the town wide yard sale. Yeah!

I can't help but think of our first 4th of July in Wilmore, being very tense and unsure of ourselves-- I'm very thankful for settling in to this lovely little place and for all the friends and acquaintances we've made here.

Athan's Surgery

Our good friends Amberly and Ryan's little boy Athan is undergoing heart surgery today. Please keep them in your prayers today as Athan jumps one last big hurtle to recovery. We are so proud of this little guy and all he has overcome in the past year.

Please stay posted with what is happening with Athan and his family throughout the day at athansjourney.blogspot.com (sorry, I can't hyperlink things from this computer).

Homemade

I love homemade things, especially now that I'm spending so much time at home. Seriously! Being home all day most days gives me more time to appreciate the quilt from my sister-in-law Tamiko, the paintings from my Grandpa and Stephen. The pillows hand-stitched by my mother-in-law and a good friend's aunt, the scarf from my sister, the diaper bag from Hannah, the hand painted picture frames (also from my Grandpa) and countless crafts from cousins surround me each day and serve as reminders that people care for us.

Right after Christmas -- this Christmas being particularly filled with handmade and thoughtful items-- Alan and I had a discussion about taste. A lot of times we receive gifts outside the usual limits of our tastes. But are our tastes so important, so sacred in their particularities, that we can't allow others to have a hand in shaping them?

I believe allowing a place in our home for the things people make us has opened the door for our tastes to be changed. First off, they weren't so great to begin with! And second of all, just as I'd rather have others enrich my life than be left to my own devices, so I'd rather my home be beautified with the handiwork of others.

Thank you to all who have labored in love on our behalf.

A Happy Birthday Indeed

This is a big ole' thank you to the people who made my birthday special:

To Alan and Lucy, for making the 7th a sweet day

To my folks, who drove over 20 hours to see us, and took me out for a birthday dinner, without complaint done only as parents do for their children

To my dear friends, who for the second time helped me celebrate a new year of life in all sincereity, generosity, and fun (not to mention all the tasty food)

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"These were the happy days, the salad days as they say..."
- H.I. McDunna, "Raising Arizona"

Games

This year Alan's family did a kind of Secret Santa exchange. My sister-in-law Desiree bought for me. She's an avid game collector and my stash is lacking so I asked for some board games. She got me Pit, Apples to Apples, and a fine addition of Trivial Pursuit.

I'm hoping (hint hint) that when we get back to Kentucky my dear friends will indulge me in a little Saturday night competition. They are all great party games and, after all, that's what Saturday at the triplexes always is: a party.

A Day at the Races

After nearly a year in Kentucky I finally went to the race track. I had just said to Alan the night before that nothing remotely serendipitous happened to me here. And then my kind friends Hannah and Jason invited me to a little lunchtime excursion to Keeneland, our neighborhood track. A lot of people there really dress the part-- I haven't seen so many blazers in my life! The races were exciting, especially when I had five dollars down on #1 in the fifth race. We all had a good feeling about him-- he looked so plucky when they paraded him around-- but he finished third in the end. Ah well, it was good fun and by far one of my better cultural experiences here.