PEOPLE IN MY CIRCLE

   When I was little,
   I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
   And then I become a grown adult [wo]man,

   And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
   you would see -  the best in many friends.

   One friend is needed when you're going through things with your mate
   Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your parents
   Another will sit beside you in the bleachers
   as you delight in your children and their activities.
   Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

   One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'
   Another ,'Let's fight together,'
   Another , 'Let's walk away together.'

   One friend will meet your spiritual need,
   Another your shoe fetish,
   Another your love for movies,
   Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
   Another will be your clarifier,
   Another the wind beneath your wings.

   But whatever their assignment in your life,
   On whatever the occasion,
   On whatever the day,
   Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on
   and hair pulled back,
   Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ...
   Those are your best friends.

   It may all be wrapped up in one [wo]man,
   But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
   One from 7th grade,
   One from high school,
   Several from the (I didn't go there) college years,
   And a couple from old jobs, or on-line

   On some days your parents or grandparents,
   On some days your neighbor,
   On others, your siblings or cousins,
   And on some days, your child[ren] or grandchildren,

   So whether they've been your friend for 20 minutes or 20 years,
   AND ONLY IF YOU'D LIKE TO,
   Pass this on to the people that have been placed in your life
   To make a difference.

I am not the author of the above, but it so moved me that I felt I needed to share it. And to say 'Thank You, to my friends.

)O(~July Evening Starr