Unexpected friendships

Hello beautiful/handsome people,

Isn't it a wonderful day? At least, I sure hope you're having a wonderful day.

I just wanted to share my thoughts on friendships that were not in your sight, but that happened and have enriched your life.

My grandpa remarried in 2006 a few months before my 15th birthday. I liked his wife enough, but I didn't really have a relationship with her, yet.

If you have had someone in your family get remarried then you know that you're a little apprehensive and nervous at first. You are happy that your family member found love again, trust their judgment, and like the person... But you're just not sure how your family dynamic will change and hope that all the things you loved before stay a part of your lives. Its an interesting dichotomy.

Quickly after they married I became good friends with my grandpa's wife. She just took me in like she had known me my whole life. Whenever I needed advice she helped me through, she took me out and treated me to girls days, we worked together on projects, and she engaged me in thoughtful conversations even though we are apart of different generations. During trying times, before I moved, she was the person I turned to for a listening ear and guidance, which was only two years into the marriage.

 She probably doesn't know it, but she was the only person I talked to about something going on in my life at one point. It was a time when I desperately needed someone to listen to me and help me work through the situation. I don't know what would have happened if I didn't have her to lean on.  Even after I moved we were able to stay close and have nice visits when we were together.

Lately I keep reflecting on our beginnings over eight years ago. I held our friendship very close while I lived away, but we definitely weren't able to communicate as frequently. I would say that the physical distance did become a slight relational distance. Which happened with everyone I was close to when I moved. Just part of the whole thing even though we have countless technologies that help us keep in touch.  Now that I am living with her (and my grandpa!), I am glad that we can have daily chats and that she can mentor me in person. I learn something new from her everyday.

I am just very grateful that my grandpa fell in love with her because she has added so much to our family--love, laughs, generosity, creativity, a realness of sorts, and many good times.

In the beginning I knew she was a nice lady and I knew we would have a good relationship, but I didn't know we would be friends. In fact I would consider her one of my best friends.

(Shout out!- Love you Laurie and I am extremely thankful for your friendship, unconditional love, and all that you have done for me.)

Do you have a good friend that you didn't expect to be so close to? Let them know how much they mean to you!

Simply Live in that you appreciate your friends.
Live Simply in that you enjoy the kind of routine things you do with your friends--like sit around and talk, get their advice a problem, rants when somethings or someones being annoying, etc. As John Lennon said, "Time you enjoyed wasting, was not wasted time."

Until next time,
Alyssa