Cherish

The cardiologist says it is time for me to resume normalcy in my day-to-day living. I've been trying to do that over the past few weeks. I appreciate being alive.  I drive again. I dance a little. He approved gin and tonic (but not caffeine). I'm up to 8 pounds that I can lift. Goody. I am back to work....slowly.

Normalcy also includes, for me anyway, a routine. I need to make a habit of reading again, and walking and the gym, working regularly on this blog and working--period. I cherish every day.

Tonight I took another step, the first regularly scheduled trip to the library in a long while. My eyesight has improved considerably in the last month and large print books are again doable. My goal is two per week. We'll see what next Thursday (or the next) brings.

One of the perks of the library is seeing my old friend Steve. He wasn't at the main branch when I used to go often, so seeing him was delightful. We bonded over books--he and an eclectic taste, me and whatever came my way. We spent happy minutes ruminating over religion, UFOs, buried treasure, his surgery and mine. It was good to talk to someone who expects nothing in return.

Most of my old friends are like that. We can talk about anything, agree or not on everything. If a gift is given, none is expected in return. A hug is just a hug, coffee is just refreshment. When we are lonely or troubled, someone is there. The touch of a friend is the healing we all need. I cherish them. There is no other word that fits.

I regret the loss of friendships because I cared too little, or maybe too much.  Maybe if I had grown up slowly, instead of stagnating, I wouldn't have been so surprised when I began to feel things again after Mom passed. Old friends became my lifeline again--instead of having always been.  I found myself pushing headfirst into the rush of renewal instead of taking things one day at a time. Ah, well,  live and learn.

If you want to be in my life now, I am grateful. I've become educated in the fine art of friendship. I'm comfortable with myself--at least, most of the time--and I've come to set irritations aside and accept the whole of the person. I am calmer. 

(Poor Hubby. If I'm crabby or mad, he gets most of the wrath. Good thing he loves me anyway.)

Make new friends but keep the old...one is silver, the other gold. Cherish them all.