Through my hardships I sometimes feel lost and alone. I didn't think that I would find my way back to true happiness.

I received a call a few weeks ago from my friend of over thirty years. She asked if I was okay and I said yeah. She said she was booking a flight and room so she could set eyes on me for herself. She made it here last weekend. We made no solid plans, just to hang out together. I am thankful for her wisdom and bossiness in insisting to come see me.

I didn't know I needed to be with my friends, doing nothing, enjoying each other's presence and laughter.

I am thankful for my life long relationships with my friends. It made me feel strong enough to imagine better days. It allowed me to see that I will be okay because I have a kinship to some of the strongest wisest people I've ever known. I know that they will not let me give up, even when I am far away, they will make sure I am okay.

As the old Irish proverb says "there are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be"