Friend Families

Lately I've had the pleasure to start hanging out with some of my best friends siblings. Now, you have to understand that I LOVE my best friends to bits..and I love their families..and despite not knowing their siblings THAT well, I already love them by association. It's so funny..because as I become older the more I realize that the people I'm closest with, the friends I hold dearest to my heart..are the people whose families are most similar to my own. We all share similar values and beliefs and morals..and I think that is part of the reason why we all get along so well. Once you add in additional siblings and cousins and other members of the family who also share these similar views..you end up with this fun group of people who are all so similar to you and who you get along with quite wonderfully..which is..AWESOME!

This last year, one of my best friends (For the purpose of this blog..we shall call her [the best friend] Nannon) sisters (Said sister of the best friend has requested that her nickname be spelt with an ie when she was informed that I was going to write a blog about her..haha! So I present to you..the sister of Nannon..Hammie.) moved from her hometown to this lovely little town. She lived in residence, made lots of new friends and had a generally quite wonderful first year at Hippie U...from what I've heard at least! She's now moved in with Nannon..and thus comes as one of those built in friends. Despite being a few years younger than us, she's quite lovely and wonderful to hang out with. We've had the pleasure of having LOTS of hangouts this past week..and it makes me happy to have her around for the summer to keep me company. I really enjoy when random friendships such as this one just..appear. It's not necessary to TRY very hard at them, you already have things in common with them and it's another person who you can laugh with and have silly inside jokes with....and just have an all around good time with. It's nice that we can just hang out so easily without really even KNOWING each other that well..and are quickly becoming good friends!

This past weekend brought many siblings and family members of some of my best friends into the same realm as each other..and I love them all dearly. We can laugh for hours, go out and be silly, or just sit around talking...all the while having a quite lovely time. My friends are some of the dearest people in the world...and I wouldn't change them for anything...and I really don't feel like I need much more in life as long as I have them in my life...But then add to that the fact that I not only have have AMAZING best friends who I love to bits, who take me as I am and who know me better than myself..but within the package of their loveliness I also get an extended family...that's more than I could ever ask for! Within their families are people who love me, care about me and are generally beyond amazing...so not only do I have best friends..but I have best friend families..who encompass all of the best parts of said best friends..in large groups of wonderful people!

So yes, I've decided that I'm quite happy that Hammie has moved north and has joined our cute and quaint little friend family..she's a wonderful addition!

And, as a bonus..I no longer am the baby of the group of friends! Our Hammie now has that distinction of being the youngest...SCORE!

Captured Memories

The last few days I've been thinking about life..

About how I spend so much time and energy being upset over things I cannot control. And even when I can control things..if I just changed my perspective slightly..it'd all end up working out. Life has this ridiculously funny way of just..working out.

I just want to embrace and capture the fun more. There is so much in life that should be enjoyed..and I think that as a whole..the general population tends to forget to do this far too often.

Despite whatever happens..despite whatever life brings..whether it be good days or bad ones..life is still going to go on. It's still going to keep on keeping on. And it really doesn't make any sense what-so-ever to muddle around being upset about the little things..that in a grand scheme of things are so ridiculously insignificant. Might as well make the best of what you've got and what you can do with what you've got.

I think that a lot of this stemmed from the fact that I got some pictures developed today. And for the first time in years..they weren't photos of the digital variety. They were OLD SCHOOL. And I'm not even talking like..from a point and shoot..no sirree..they were from an old DISPOSABLE camera. That kind of old school.

And they weren't of anything spectacular. The quality was poor..and the pictures were nothing to write home about. They weren't the most funny pictures of the best pictures of a night out that I've ever taken. But they captured everything. There were no retakes..there were no do-overs. Everyone was just..real. The moment was captured..the happiness, the ridiculousness, the sillies, the EVERYTHING. The atmosphere shows through in these pictures and makes me long for another one of those nights. I think that the reason that I love these so much is that despite the fact that they're not perfectly centred or focused or even all extremely amusing..is that they're real. The captured us as we truly were..there was no saying 'AHH! DELETE DELETE!' after the photo was taken..and then a meager attempt to recreate the moment. The moment was just..there. Whether people liked the angle of their face or the way their hair was or WHATEVER other ridiculous things we insist upon obsessing over..the picture was captured..for better or for worse. The moment was stuck..it was captured..and whatever was being felt at the moment was captured as well. I think that the reason that I love them so much is that they're real. They've managed to capture the essence of what I love most about my friends and about the silly times we've had..they managed to capture us at our best, our worst..and everything in between. And really, that's what life is all about.


And yet again..as I'm wrapping up this post..a random song that I haven't heard in FOREVER comes blaring over my speakers from the random eclectic stash of music I horde upon this computer..so I'll leave it with the verse from these lyrics that is just..fitting.

It won't be long before it's another day...
We're gonna have a good time...
No one's gonna take that time away..

Friendship Glue

Friendships are like glue..There are some glues that hold for a long time, some glues that hold for a short time, and some glues that hold for no time at all. Sometimes the glue lasts longer than you expect..and sometimes something that is glued can be ripped off in a flash..it all depends on the type of glue and how you use it.

Over the years many friends have came in and out of my life. There have been friends of all walks of life who have at some point walked in (and sometimes out..) of my life..but in one way or another..they have all touched my life in some shape or form.

There have been some friends who have stuck around through everything. There have been some 'friends' who have stuck around through nothing..There have been some friends that have been around for years..and newer friends who have been around for a lot less time. There are some friends who are good at listening, and others who are good when you are the listener. There are some who are good for going out and having fun..and others who are good for a quiet night at home. Some I have everything in common with..others I have little in common with..Some I have more in common with than I would have ever assumed..but have remained more acquaintances than friends for reasons unknown. There are some that are quick friends (the glue from a hot glue gun?) and others that start out as friends of friends..or simply acquaintances...but slowly turn into some of the best friends you've ever had (That glue stick that sits in your desk drawer that you forget to use until three years later you finally pull it out and accomplish so many amazing projects with!) But there is always that constant glue that holds us together. Some unspoken connection or bond that has made through the crossing of our life paths...

There are many people who I know from my younger days who are not really friends at all..but people who have passed through my life at one point or another. Like when your teacher made you share the glue in the classroom..it wasn't really YOURS..but you used it anyways.. When I was younger, most of my friends weren't friends who stayed around, they were friends more of..convenience. I either didn't know, wouldn't admit or had no options (think: small town, peer pressure, etc.) for a variety of friends..so instead I was friends with people that when I look back on it now..I have little to nothing in common with. We MADE things in common with each other..but our interests and loves and passions did not tie us together..the material of our friendship was merely thin threads instead of distinct weaves..

Loosing touch with some people has made me cry at times..the years of friendship..and then that broken connection..it can be heartbreaking...It's like finding out that you worked for years putting something together..and then suddenly it all falls apart...the glue just doesn't stick anymore. I remember the first time that a friend slipped away..especially into the 'wrong crowd'. I sat and cried on the kitchen floor to my Mom for HOURS when the realization of that came crushing down..but then there have been others who also fell into that 'crowd'..and it didn't really affect me...It wasn't such a big deal..and their loss of friendship went over without too much ado...it was as if their glue wasn't as strong..they weren't as connected to me..so their breaking away wasn't felt nearly as much.

But then...I still have that group of friends from years ago who I can still keep in touch with and still communicate with and visit and catch up with after months (and sometimes years..) of not speaking..and we still have some sort connection left..a deeper bond that keeps us together. They're my super glue friends. The ones who always come bouncing back when you least expect them to.

It seems that life goes in cycles..for me at least. I go into something..a life experience of sorts (thus far in life..mostly schooling of sorts) and I make all sorts of friends and acquaintances..and then that experience is over..and I begin my journey to the next adventure my life has to bring..and I loose most of those people. It's not that I necessarily MEAN for this to happen..but it just..does. It just has become a natural transition. People drift, move, have adventures of their own..live their lives. It's then that I realize how little we actually had in common..and our relationship..our friendship..was based largely on circumstances. We knew the same people and did the same things..we were having similar experiences..so we could relate and co-exist. And during this time in our lives..it was helpful to have these people, these similar beings who were able to commiserate and understand and be a part of your life.

But then I look at the people that I stay in touch with from those times..and I look around me at the people who I keep. And suddenly, as I get older, I see this wonderful group of amazing individuals who I truly have something in common with. With each new life experience I gain new people and new resources in my life..but I still keep the most important ones with me. Those 'friends for life'..who even if you don't talk to every minute of every day..even if they don't know all of the minute details of your life..they still know the big things. And more importantly, you know that no matter what..they'll always be there with a smile, a hug and a helping hand no matter the circumstances...

It's rather comforting to realize that I've created this entire support network of amazing people who I love to death..it's not huge..it's not fancy..but they love me for me..and will always be there for me..no matter what.

I guess that's what they really are..my no matter what friends. They're the ones that have been there through it all..the good, the bad, the ugly. The random, the funny..the tears and the smiles. The ones who you can sit with for hours talking..never running out of things to talk about with..and even when you're too exhausted to talk anymore..the mere presence of their being is comforting. When it all comes down to it..they're the glue that holds everything together..and really..who doesn't love some good glue?