"In order to write about life, first you must live it." ~ Ernest Hemingway

Thoughts on Friendship

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” ~ Tennessee Williams





I have spent way too much time over the past two days trying to write a very poetic essay about the things I have learned about the topic of friendship. And then I realized it sucked. I am guessing it was because I was trying too hard. This is my revised essay because well, it’s better than not writing anything…

Ten years ago, my life revolved around my partner. Now my life revolves around my friends, family, AND my partner…

When it comes to friendship, always chose quality or quantity…

I remember the day I went to court to finalize my divorce, Nicole left her two young children with her mother and made the almost three hour round trip to meet me after court so I wouldn’t be alone…

It’s awesome to have friends that you are so close to that you can call then in the middle of the night about anything. But it’s also nice to have acquaintance friends. You know, the ones that with whom the deepest topic you delve into is about your concern over how your dog’s poop looks…

Becoming friends with someone is risky business. You’re putting yourself out there after all. Have a little faith and let down your guard…

We are not meant to go through this life alone…

Friendships nurture us. They can double your fun and halve your grief. I am not even sure that is grammatically correct, but you get the idea…

I remember Jen coming to my apartment and stocking my refrigerator as well as turning on my air conditioner in preparation for me returning from a very difficult hospital stay…

To truly be a good friend requires stepping outside of yourself even when it is not convenient for you. Even when all you want to do is take a hot shower and get into bed…

I remember when in the same weekend, my marriage began a rapid decline and my grandmother died, Steve drove two hours each way to come to my grandmother’s wake. He was the light in a very dark tunnel…

Social media is a wonderful tool for staying connected with friends. But nothing beats sitting across from an old friend at a table with a glass of wine and laughing about the good old days….like that time you wet yourself because you were drunk and trying to go to the bathroom in the woods. Not that I know anyone who did that…

I remember the evening that Tina and Lauren ran over from their dorm at UMASS after I called them hysterically crying because my dad told me my forty-four year old mother had ovarian cancer…

Don’t make toxic friends (please refer to previous blog entry: Warning: Toxic!). I know this can sometimes be tricky to figure out early on, but be on the lookout. If every single conversation reverts back to them or they constantly suck the life out of you, time to run for the hills…

Being a good friend is much more important than just having one. Thank god I have a few who taught me how to do it right…

In honor of those who hold our hand, dry our tears, refill our beer glasses, and drive us home to keep us from acquiring an arrest record, please consider taking a moment to share a memory of something special or significant a friend did for you.

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3 Comments

  1. Tina

    Well, I was there for the situation in the woods…and it is one of my funniest memories…along with the PVTA bus driver telling us to shut up…was that the same night…? I remember visiting you in the ER in Boston too – fun and scary…and special. I especially cherish our Tuesday calls – in the car on my way to Pilates and just long enough to catch up and not make you sick..except that one time your breathing got screwed up…

    I have so many memories of friendship. Too many to count. I am blessed – by you and by others.

    XOXO
    Tina

  2. Lauren Dechayne-Donati

    I remember the night in the woods, if I remember correctly, you were wearing purple…and of course recall the night you told us about your Mom. I, too, have many wonderful memories of us at UMass. Someday we should get together and look at all the proof of the fun we had in the photos we took :). xoxo Lauren

  3. Christine

    Definitely Lauren! 🙂

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