Friendship - a reason to blog

I started blogging in the summer of 2005 when I got involved in the "Senior Bachelor" adventure. Don't ask...but, I started connecting with mature, single women with similar interests and as such forged many new friendships. I met a lot of these women in person and made at least two new and strong friendships. One of the women lives in Arizona and the other in Newport, Wales. Suzanne took me to the Grand Canyon and Jane showed me around Newport and Cardiff. I will play hostess to them when they come to visit me here in Canada, hopefully soon.

I kept on blogging for the fun of it and have found that it's intriguing to meet people from all over the world. I now "know" people from not only Canada and the United States but also from Australia, Africa, Italy, France, England, Scotland, Wales, Holland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Norway, Belize, and South Africa. Thanks to blogging, the world has opened up even more and one day, when I can afford to travel, I hope to meet at least some of these people for a coffee, tea, or maybe even a stiff one.

Today I'd like to honour my friend Lee-ann at Pear Tree Cottage in Australia. We've been posting on each other's sites for quite some time now and when she heard that my daughter is expecting a baby girl, she emailed me, asking me to send her my address as she had some beautiful baby clothes that had been brought into the thrift shop where she volunteers. She said it'd give her great pleasure to be able to send them on to my daughter.

The parcel arrived today and inside was a treasure! The most beautiful baby outfits - all either brand new or hardly used. I know my daughter will be delighted, as will her 4-year-old son. Lee-ann's grandson told his Nanni that the new baby shouldn't get everything! Her big brother should receive a present, too! So, there's a little koala bear for Noah and I just know he'll be thrilled. Lee-ann has gift-wrapped the koala along with two other gifts that I didn't unwrap but will take to the expectant family on the weekend.

Australia has long been on my list of places to visit. In fact, when I was a teenager, I had a pen-pal in Melbourne, but we long ago lost touch. In grade 10, I did a HUGE report on Australia, receiving an A+, but the teacher told me he lost it. (I think he kept it as an example for future classes!) Some day, I will make it to Australia to visit Lee-Ann, Pam, Meggie, and David along with others I might "meet" along the world's blogging trail. And I would welcome all of them should they ever come this way.

So, why do I blog? Is it to receive gifts from places around the world? Of course not! Instead, it's for the network of friendships that I value. I have a very small family that is not particularly close so friendship is central to my life and helps shape who I am as a person. Ralph Waldo Emerson discusses friendship in his Essay VI and it's quite a good read.

True friendship is the most solid thing we know. Most of us have lots of acquaintances, but how many true friends can you count? Some of these blogging friends may fade away in time, but I know that some will stay and become true friends, especially when we meet in person to solidify the relationship.

THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

God gives us special pleasures
When we spend our time with friends.
They're a gift beyond all measure,
Who bring joy that never ends.

God knew our need for friendship
When creating you and me,
And the lasting need for kinship
That some folks may never see.

Fellowship that flows so freely
Fills a need within our soul.
As we reach out to each other,
Feel God's spirit make us whole.

If we journey on together,
Or each go our separate ways.
May our friendship last forever,
As a gift through out our days.

copyright 2000 Nona Kelley Carver