Yay! I'm officially on spring break as of today. You can probably tell because I actually posted a blog. :) And while it would be great to go to the Bahamas or on a cruise like some of my students are doing, I am, instead, taking a short road trip with the bestie and then chillin' for the rest of the week.
Ang and I are going to see a Charlotte Brontë manuscript that she wants to see and then on to the site of Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech that I want to see. (Can you tell who was the English major and who was the history major?) While we're out and about we'll stop and see whatever roadside attractions catch our eyes, but mostly we'll gab, snack and listen to road trip songs.
Any suggestions for songs to listen to, places to eat in the Columbia, Missouri, area, or great snacks to try?
The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley
Angie and I met at a church function when we were 15 years old. We were two of very few girls in a huge room full of boys, so naturally, we gravitated to each other. Next thing you know, we were friends.
Since then, we've gone to college hours away from one another, been separated by jobs and families that took up all our time, and we currently live 4 hours apart and see each other, on average, once a year. We've weathered all kinds of situations and have remained friends through it all.
One day, Angie's daughter was asking about what things she and I have in common. We don't generally like the same movies, books, music or TV shows. Confused, Samantha asked why we were friends if we didn't have anything in common. Angie replied that we were friends because we like each other. And that's all friendship has to be.
I don't like the societal standard that is out there in movies and TV about what friends should have in common. They should be the same age, same gender, same socio-economic class, and they should enjoy sitting around a table drinking coffee or beer. Oh, and there should always be at least 4 friends in the group. Less than that is just sad.
Bull hockey!! Friends don't have to have anything in common other than that they like each other. Differences of opinion make for lively conversation. And a different take on things can open up your mind, challenge your convictions, and lead you to new likes and experiences.
How did you meet your best friend? What are some of the differences and similarities you cherish?
This is the first in a series about friendship. I challenge you to follow along. You might learn something. You might even make a new friend along the way.
My best friend Angie is a huge Point of Grace fan. She got to meet them recently at a concert and she was so excited that she called me on her way home just so she could share. I love that she gets as excited about meeting her favorite singers as I have about meeting mine, though my favorites are a different style.
Angie shared this video with me one day and I thought it was a beautiful song, so I thought I'd share it with you. I like this view of Mary in labor. She was so young and in such a difficult situation, but she obediently and gracefully fulfilled her calling to give birth to the Messiah. What a woman!
I started teaching 3 classes for the local community college this week. I am so out of the habit of working!! It was all I could do to get ready for these classes, when in the past I could throw together a lesson plan in nothing flat. Oh well, I'll get back in the swing of things and be able to accomplish other stuff, too.
If you're having a busy week, too, don't forget to do something nice for yourself. Get your hair done, take a walk with your partner, dog, or cat (if you have crazy cats like mine), watch your favorite show and don't think at all about all the cleaning and laundry that needs to be done, call your mom to let her know you love her, email your best friend and tell her how much you miss hanging out with her like you did in high school, drink lots of water, eat your favorite meal and don't even think about the calories for once, turn up the music and clean and/or dance around the house...whatever you do, just enjoy it. You've had a busy week - you deserve it!
Have a great weekend!
P.S. I like to crank up either Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin/Robert Plant/Jimmy Page when cleaning the house. Here are 2 versions of a great Floyd song for you to enjoy. Let me know which version you like the most.
