Yesterday, I heard the door bell ring.  Twice.  I was on the phone with my sister, Clara.  While still talking with Clara, I went to the door and . . .

There at the door were two dear friends from Indiana.  David and JoAnn  I first met David in the blogosphere through a niece, Clara’s daughter.  I put the phone on speaker so that Clara could greet David and vice versa.

Sylvia was clerking at the food coop a couple of villages from here.  On those days, she frequently gets Chinese carry out.  So I called her to get their choices (and ours) for supper.  We had a great time.

We had a wonderful time sharing tales–both short and tall.  We even found time to share catalogs of ailments and woes.  However, not much time for the latter.

David is the kind of guy with whom I enjoy sharing philosophical and theological ideas.  He is highly intelligent and insightful.  If I could have an older brother, I’d want it to be him.  Too soon it was over.

After a nice breakfast, we shared out good-byes and they left.

We look forward to our next meeting.  Either here or in Indiana.  Sylvia and I wish them well as they continue their swing through Michigan.

I just hope he didn’t get lost following my directions to Grand Rapids.

Last week, Sylvia and I attended a gathering of my high school class.  It has been 61 years ago that we graduated, and now we meet each year.  Of the 60 plus grads, most of us are still alive.  A couple choose not to attend our gatherings and profess no interest in fellow classmates.

Interestingly, folks who were not close during our school days (daze) who were not particularly close, truly enjoy each other’s company now.  Talk is of children (some of whom are already retired), grands and great grands.  At least one has great great grands.  Catalogs of ailments, aches and pains are also compared.

On the way back home, my thoughts turned to the nature of friendship.  From here, it looks like the bonds are friendship are forged from matters held in common.  Those matters could be goals, achievements, experiences, commitments, etc.

Some of my younger friends talk of “doing life together.”  Perhaps that is, in fact, the very essence of friendship.

What is your view of friendship?