But actually, my thoughts on letters have lead me to the many beautiful friends around the globe that I have loved and then been obliged to leave.
Life has taken me on so many paths - to places far flung and places extremely local - and at each stop I have made what Heather at the Extraordinary Ordinary calls 'heart gut friends.' These are the friends who own your very spirit almost from the beginning: the ones who inspire honesty, who call out your wickedest sense of humor, your noblest sense of compassion, and your drunkest protestations of loyalty.
All the chat about letter writing reminds me that I haven't written nearly enough to these friends - not paper, not email, not Facebook. As they travel the world - to Yemen, to China, to Holland, to Togo, to Germany, to Azerbijan, to Australia - I have tracked their progress, known where they were, but maybe at times have lost the heart-gut connection.
Doesn't mean I've forgotten them. Their marks on my heart are deep, and permanent. Before my last big move, from Europe back to the States, my lovely friend Esther (she of the most beautiful heart in the world) protested but how can you move?!? I feel that you will be moving out of my life, not just the country. As much as her words hurt my heart, I knew it was true that I might not see her for years (and I haven't. Seven long years later.) But what I had to tell her that day, what I have to believe, is that my heart-gut friends will only be around the next corner, always.
When I see them, we will pick up immediately where we left off. When we meet, we will offer great strong genuine bear hugs, and maybe cry and definitely laugh and know that there will be no recrimination for unwritten letters, for un-dialed phones, for unsent emails. We will sit down immediately and eat and drink and laugh and drink a little more and remember all the things about each other that bind us forever. We will meet new partners, new lovers, new children, and in all likelihood we will love them immediately too. We will go to sleep - maybe camped out on someone's couch, maybe all tucked up in a newly-remodeled guest room - glowing in the knowledge that we are back with our People. People who get you, who love you, and will welcome you back into their lives at a moment's notice. More than lovers: these friends are My People.
No matter where in the world they are tonight, they are mine. Y'all know who you are.
11 comments:
Forever friends are the very best kind.
when it comes to friendship, distance means nothing. Neither does time
just forwarded your post to esther ~ i thought she'd really enjoy this piece. we were just talking about you the other day. coconuts. beach. tenerife. need i say more? but all kidding aside, you'll forever remain one of our most treasured heart gut people, too. geographically you're just too damn far away, but you know, you've always got that special place in our hearts. be well, my friend. jij bent heet! marit :-)
make that: wij zijn heet!!!! lol :-))
What a lovely person you must be to call 'friend'.
Nice post.
I too have moved home and country all too often and have friends scattered around the globe. I still consider my three closest friends to be the ones who live in Australia, Ireland and England respectively. We keep in touch through email, skype, Facebook and text messaging as each one has different preferences for communication.
I agree with all you have said about the lost art of letter writing, but have to also be honest and say that modern technology makes maintaining the involvement in the lives of friends forever who are far away, with children and lives equally as busy as my own, so much easier.
Thanks so much for your post on Forever Friends. You immediately brought tears to my eyes as I often struggle with communicating with loved ones near and far. When we moved to Belgium a few years ago, we struggled with staying in touch with family and friends in the US. Since moving back we now struggle with staying connecting with people we love who are now scattered around the world. It is such a blessing when true friends don't keep score and welcome you with open arms. We are currently preparing for a family visiting this weekend that have kids that my kids were best friends with and haven't seen in a year. When we you do get to speak or see each other we immediately connect as if no time has ever passed - pure bliss!
And I know in my heart gut that you're a really good friend.
Did I just say "your" instead of "you're" I think maybe I did. I hate when that happens.
Oh look, I can see my comment now and I did not use the wrong your/you're. So now I'm just neurotic. As per usual.
Heather you're killing me. As per usual. :)
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