An Ode to Friendship

Last evening we shared a party with good friends. This is an annual event, a birthday party, to celebrate all of our birthdays that have happened throughout the year. We had sillly party hats, horns, leis, and VERY appropriate gifts for each guest. Corny? Sure. Fun? Of course. Funny?
Hilarious. The stories told were all the old ones that we've all heard before. The jokes were all the predictable ones that we all know and love . Everyone got a "lei", how predictable were those jokes?

We have all been friends for many years. In fact the years that we've known one another far out number the years that we didn't know one another. We have worked together, had fun together, shared troubles together, in short: just been loyal, good friends. We used to be better looking according to someone's standards ( American culture as shown in magazines?) But let me tell you, by my standards, last night those faces were never more beautiful. There is no beauty as great as the face of a good and loyal friend.

We used to all work so hard to be successful, to raise and educate our kids, to attain the
"stuff" that meant we were doing well. I know some were much wiser than I. But many of us were judgemental, a bit envious, a bit slow in realizing the beauty and worth of a friend.

Now we care not a whit about the "stuff" we have accumulated. We have all had our problems, our health issues, our disappointments. We have learned to accept our kids and grandkids, no matter their decisions. I think we have learned to rejoice in the ordinary things that bring joy to every day life.

And, certainly, we have come to the realization that there is nothing more beautiful than the face of a good friend.