Friendships
Posted by chrystibella on January 29, 2009
Author Kelly Corrigan wrote this moving essay about women’s remarkable capacity to support each other, to laugh together, and to endure. The full text is available in the paperback edition of her memoir,The Middle Place
, on sale December 23, 2008.
This essay reminds me of the friendships that I have developed over the years. Growing up as a military brat, we moved about every 2 years so I was unable to develop longstanding relationships. Though I do have to point out that the bonds of the military families that I grew up with were strong. It was that we had to leave them that was painful and many lost touch with us. I do have a couple of friends from my childhood but not many. It wasn’t until I lived here in the same town for the last 20 years that I have friendships that have lasted as long.
Some people have come and gone in my life. I”ve missed them but for whatever reason our paths took a different direction. Others have stayed as we traveled on our journey. New friends have also emerged and brought with them a refreshing twist as I learned new things and adapted them to my lifestyle. We have raised out kids together and we have gone through empty nest together. Illnesses, births, deaths and so on.
I belong to a group of women friends who get together once a month just to hang out, drink wine, eat fine dishes brought by everyone. We sometimes have a theme, sometimes we just talk but it is always a delight and I leave feeling great and the feeling lingers for a long time. I am so grateful to be included in such fine company.
I was truly touched by the essay because it expresses my feelings in a way I could never have put into words, but it is the way my heart sings when I think of the people in my life who mean so much.
