Monday, August 20, 2007

FRIENDS

With our hectic lives, we sometimes take our friends for granted. They are that shoulder to lean on in bad times and they are someone who makes you laugh during the good times. Friends mean a lot of things, but I think they can best be summed up below.

F - forgiving, fun, faithful, flexible, friendly, funny
R - reliable, relaxed, real, respectful, rational, responsible, reasonable
I - interesting, inquisitive, impulsive, imaginative, impartial, integrity
E - everlasting, energetic, enthusiastic, encouraging, exceptional, easygoing, extraordinary
N - nurturing, nice, nutty, neat
D - dedicated, dependable, devoted, discreet, dynamic, diligent, determination
S - supportive, special, sympathetic, sincere, sharing, spontaneous, silly

Take a moment to think about your friends and which of the adjectives above fit each of them, or think of your own adjectives. Since it is Friendship Month, take a few moments to write them a heartfelt letter telling them why you enjoy their friendship. I'm getting out my pen and paper right now.

What is your perfect summer day?

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. — James Dent

Where we recently moved to, there is a huge lake. This weekend, as I was pulling into my driveway, I could see down the hill to the lake where all of the boats were out on the water. It made me want to run to the lake and jump in. Although I didn't, I spent my weekend just relaxing. OK, I admit that I didn't want to sit out in 106 degree weather, but I was just chilling out and enjoying the last days of summer. I am going camping on Labor Day weekend, which should be tons of fun, but that will be my last big hurrah for the summer.

I remember as a little kid that when my mom started to take me back to school shopping that my summer days were numbered. Fall was around the corner and once again I would be hitting the books and having pages of homework. My lazy days of wading in the pool, sleeping in, and reading my favorite Nancy Drew book all day while dangling my legs over the side of the bed were abruptly coming to a close until the following summer. Although it was only less than a year away, it felt like summer would never come again.

We all get wrapped up in our lives and sometimes we don't make enough effort to just enjoy what life has to offer. Before you know it, the kids are grown, decades have gone by, and you wonder what happened to all of the free time you thought you would have for yourself. If the weather is not too unbearable, make a glass of iced tea or lemonade and sit out under the shade to take in the things around you.

Even if your lawn mower really does work, let it be broken for the day.