Monday, August 23, 2010

The Importance of Friends

mood: nostalgic
pandora/ipod: "lean on me" by the housemartins

I have a lot of friends.





It's not because I'm irresistibly magnetic or the most popular girl in the room or even because I pay them. I have a lot of friends because I work to maintain connections with the people I like and care about. Childhood friends, high school friends, college and grad school friends, opera friends, circus friends, writer friends both online and in person... I love expanding my world, meeting new people, enriching my life.

OMG that is so cheesy. I think I made myself sick. Ugh, it's about to get worse. Get a barf bag.

My friends are a great source of strength for me. Whether I'm plodding my way through a novel that isn't quite working, indulging in "girl" talk (even with the boys) or angsting over major life decisions, I have an array of fantabulous folks who will listen, laugh, console, advise or cuddle as the situation dictates.



My friends keep me honest. Old friends call me on my bullshit, new friends indulge it. No one flinched when I announced I was giving up on opera, no one raised an eyebrow when I announced I was writing a novel. Just love and support and wanting to make sure that I'm happy.




I'm not sure what I would do without my friends. I certainly wouldn't be the person I am today. I certainly wouldn't be as well-rounded (er, emotionally...STOP LOOKING AT MY HIPS!!!). I certainly wouldn't be as happy. I'm not sure if I would have achieved half of the things I've done over the years without them - all of them - in my corner.



So to you guys: the Millbraeans, Bruins and Terrapins; my crooners, Purgatorians, Hopefuls, Rebels and Inkies; to the production peeps, the drinkers and the shoppers; my girls and my boys.




You know who you are. You know you are loved. But what you may not know is how much a strong chick like me needs you.
pimped by at

14 comments:

  1. Christine FonsecaAugust 23, 2010 at 6:06 AM

    I absolutely LOVE this post Gretchen - and dude you have great friends because YOU are an amazing friend. Just sayin'

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  2. AmyAugust 23, 2010 at 7:20 AM

    Ditto what Christina said.

    This is such a great post. And I'm so happy to be one of the bosoms...er, people pictured here. :-)

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  3. kimAugust 23, 2010 at 7:33 AM

    ::smoooch::

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  4. sue laybournAugust 23, 2010 at 7:48 AM

    I love you, lady.

    Awesome post.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  5. Lydia KangAugust 23, 2010 at 7:48 AM

    Hooray for friends! I love the picts. YOu guys are having so much fun. The boob-lifting one was hilarious. Too bad I can't join you. I'm flatter than a, well, you know.

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  6. Deborah GrayAugust 23, 2010 at 8:10 AM

    If wealth is defined by your friends, you are the richest person on the planet. What a fabulous post, what a fabulous grouping of photos!

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  7. vic caswell August 23, 2010 at 8:32 AM

    so sweet!

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  8. NadineAugust 23, 2010 at 10:28 AM

    Loved this post! Thanks for being such an awesome friend. You are a fantastic person and I am so glad to have you in my life.

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  9. GretchenAugust 23, 2010 at 11:15 AM

    YOU GUYS ARE ALL GOING TO MAKE ME CRY!!!!!

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  10. Jan O'Hara (Tartitude)August 23, 2010 at 12:37 PM

    Mwaaa! Tears on this end, too. I'm proud to be one of your fangirls, Gretchen.

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  11. Alice LoweeceyAugust 23, 2010 at 4:41 PM

    *squeezlehugs* Love you lots, lady!

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  12. cindyAugust 23, 2010 at 4:48 PM

    <3

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  13. alisonAugust 25, 2010 at 1:19 PM

    Right back at ya, Eddie... (almost fell off my chair when I found myself staring back at myself from the short-list). Greatly honoured (or honored as you might say yourself;-) xx Pats

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  14. GretchenAugust 25, 2010 at 2:54 PM

    Love you, Pats. :D

    ReplyDelete

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