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?

Joan H Young at book signing

I met Joan several years ago online, mostly because we are both bloggers from Michigan.  I’ve enjoyed reading her posts on My Quality Day as they contain a lot of outdoor pix and, sometimes, some scientific info about the featured plant or animal.

Joan, aka Shark or Sharkey, is giving away this beautiful window pane afghan:

You can read more about the giveaway here: Shark Bytes and Tales.  While you are there you can read more about Joan and her published works.

The first book by Joan that I read was North Country Cache.  This is her story of hiking the entire North Country Trail.  Would You Dare? is a devotional that comprises twelve compact biographies of Christians who have dared.  I found that very inspirational.

My favorite is the Dead Mule Swamp Mysteries this series is available at Smashwords, or Amazon. You can also find it and more at Barnes and Noble.

Joan writes in an easy-to-read style.  I find her books tend to draw me in and I lose myself in the tale.  I urge you to check it out.  If you have a Nook or Kindle, The Hollow Tree at Dead Mule Swamp is available for free download.

It is not to late to win that afghan for your very own.  Check it out.

With this ring . . .

I renew vows every. single. day. It’s taking in the garbage cans or cutting the lawn. It’s small kindnesses and  forgiveness that show your commitment.

It started when our friend, Vanilla, posted Wedding Bands and Homemade Noodles on his blog.  He talks about coming home from a stay in the hospital.  His lovely wife brought him his wedding ring and said, “Let me put this ring on your finger again.”  There’s more to the story.  Click on the link to read it.

In response, our friend Lin said, “Sweet post today. I have never understood renewing your vows with a grand party and guests and fancy clothes and a big ballyhoo. I think you renew your vows every. single. day. I do. It’s taking the garbage cans in so he doesn’t have to…or cutting the lawn after work to make more relaxing time on the weekend. It’s small kindnesses and lots of forgiveness and letting things go that show your commitment.

Five years ago, as our 50th wedding anniversary was approaching, Sylvia and I began to talk about how we would celebrate the joyous occasion.  Our son said, “Why renew vows if you never broke them?”  I can’t disagree with that.  We weren’t going to do that anyway.  We did take a trip to Michigan’s upper peninsula.  We saw a couple of places we had never seen but had wanted to for a long time.

A couple of years ago, I began to pray something like this, “Dear Lord, you know how much I love my wife.  I tell her that several times each day.  Now, Lord, I ask you to help me show through my deeds how much I love her.”  After a couple of days (He waited to see if I was serious?), my answer came. “Keep your eyes open and you will see.”

I kept my eyes open and within an hour I saw what I could do.  (Why didn’t I see it years before?)

What I’m saying is that if marriage is an institution, I don’t mind being institutionalized.