More friends

I'm baaaaaack!  I will try to get through this without getting too sappy.  Hey, I may even put a little humor into this one.  Who knows.  Let's see where it goes!

I left off at number 6:  Your parents.  Hard one for me and one that has kept mom and dad in the forefront of my mind ever since.  I also wanted to add that parents are not always on the list of BFF's.  Like those parents that choose to walk away from their own flesh and blood because of mistakes they have made.  Parents that won't acknowledge they even have a child or children.  Those people aren't fit to be called parents in my opinion.  In my husband's case, his parental BFF's are/were his grandparents.  On both sides of his family.  Even when he thought they weren't.  I don't know what kind of person he would be today if they hadn't have been consistent in his life while he was growing up. 

Moving on.....Best friend #7:  Your siblings.

For some of you that don't have siblings, it could be a cousin or another relative, even a close friend.  At some point, your siblings rise to the BFF status at some point in your life. They are right there wearing those same plaid pants that you are.  They have to be in those embarrassing pictures too.  And they also have strange hair cuts.  It wasn't just you!  Your siblings are basically "forced to love you" and vice versa and they are also the ones to tell you just how it is!

I love all my brothers and sisters.  Nothing will ever change that.  That doesn't mean I have to like everything about them.  I know there is plenty they don't like about me.  My sisters are my rocks.  Don't know what I would do without them, honestly.  I have such seperate relationships with each of them that they bring out the best in me.  They make me think.  They make me strive.  My brothers...well that gets a little hairy.  When I was a child, I lived for my brothers.  I thought they were my world.  Right outside of my dad.  Of course, I would never tell THEM that but I always adored them.  I would always hate their girlfriends until they wanted me to like them.  Then I loved their girlfriends.  If someone told me that they thought one of my brothers was cute, I immediately didn't like them.  Funny.  Although I love my brothers with all my heart, I have never felt like I quite measured up to them in any way.  I wasn't athletic enough; I wasn't educated enough; I wasn't smart enough.  But now that we are grown adults, I have realized I don't have to measure up in their eyes.  Just my own.  I still love my brothers and we will always be family. 

Best friend #8:  Your twenty something BFF.

This BFF has been through some of the best times with you and some of the worst times with you.  They were there when you started and quit a job...maybe in the same day.  They were there when you cried...or screamed...about some jerk of a guy that treated you wrong.  The BFF's in your twenties are supposed to be your besties for life because of all the "survival" you have endured together. 

My twenty something BFF would be Linda.  She and I have so many ups and downs that we could sell tickets for our own roller coaster.  Maybe that's what that "survival" means.  She and I have lived together on several occasions and have done some PRETTY. STUPID. stuff over the years.  We've also done some of the funnest things as well.  For instance, she held a frozen Snicker's bar on her thigh and used a knife to cut through it.  Yep, she went to the Emergency Room because she cut herself so deeply.  To this day she blames me for that.  All I can do is laugh at her about it.  Linda and I both hold a lot of stuff inside that we shouldn't.  We let it build up until one of us can't stand it anymore.  We used to get mad and stop talking to each other but not anymore.  We just tell each other what pisses us off and we move on. 

Best friend #9:  Your Powerhouse BFF.

This is the BFF that has the same career goals as you and someone that has helped pull you up to where you are at now.  You may have met them at a previous job or just out having coffee one day but usually you and the Powerhouse BFF have the same opinions about everyone and everything.  This is a beautiful relationship.

I have to honestly say that I don't have a Powerhouse BFF.  Nobody really helped me "get to where I am" because I am doing a job that I have been around my whole entire life.  It doesn't mean I want to do this job for the rest of my life nor does it mean that I hate it.  I really took this job, in the first place, because it was close to home and offered insurance.  That is it.  And if I ever meet anyone that has the same opinions about everything as me, I am just turning around and walking away.  I would probably not like that person very much.  I think my opposites would like me a whole lot better.

Best friend #10:  Your Long Distance BFF.

You may only have one of these, or a few of these, heck, maybe even several, depending on how much you move around. At some point, you know you are going to go off in different directions, possibly another state, and the relationship changes.  Not in a bad way, but it does change.  You end up loving every minute you get to see each other and text each other about how much you miss each other. 

My Long Distance BFF is Stacy.  She lives in the Kansas City area and we met through a mutal "guy" that we both knew.  Or thought we knew.  Of course that guy isn't in our lives anymore (thank you Jesus) but we have continued to remain friends and I love her kids like they were my own...even though she has a son that wanted to marry me at one time!!!  I don't get to see Stacy as much as I'd like so yes, we tell each other all the time how we miss each other and can't wait to get a visit in again.  It's always, always, always, too far in between.  I love her like my own sister and I am so glad that God brought us together.  I don't believe our relationship has changed though.  That is the only thing I disagree on.  At least with she and I.

Best friend #11:  Your furry BFF.

You may have only one of these, you may have many of these. They come in many forms.  Dogs, cats, ferrets (ick), snakes, rats, you name it...people love all sorts of different furry.  And some not so furry.  Pets are amazing! 

If you don't have any of these, or have never had any of these, I feel sorry for you.  There is nothing like the unconditional love a pet can give you.  The security they place in your heart is uncomparable. Growing up, we lived in the jail house...owned by the county...so we couldn't have pets.  Every year though, I always asked mom and dad and also Santa Claus for a puppy.  Never got one until I was older though.  Kathy and I had a little puppy when we lived out in the country south of Corning.  It was named Snickers and it was a cute little thing.  We put it outside to go potty and it never came back.  I'm pretty sure it became food for some bigger animal.  Or got stepped on by a cow.  Who knows.  Love you Snickers!! 

My first husband and I had a German Shephard named Spike.  I loved that dog too!  Of course I did.  I loved all my animals! He was so fun.  After my dad died, we moved in with my mom and we had to take Spike to a shelter.  I hated that.  I vowed I would never let a dog go to a shelter again.  I was mad at myself for a long time over that. 

Later, my husband and I got a couple of cats.  We had moved into our own place by this time.  My cats were named Felix and Oscar and guess what...they were both female.  And they hated each other.  But they loved me.  They also loved the phone!  When I was at work, my mom would call and leave a message on the answering machine and Oscar would push the answer button.  I guess he wanted to talk to her as well!  One time, we were sitting at the dinner table and mom was living with us.  We had put the cats in the basement while we ate and I will be darned if that Oscar didn't get up in the duct and climb up into the cold air return vent.  I thought my mom was going to piss herself.  Scared her so!  Oh that was so funny! 

Eventually the cats got to be too many and to the farm they went. 

My second husband and I had a precious little baby girl named Lucy Diamond Keith.  She was loved so much.  By both of us.  Spoiled rotten and beautiful.  She was actually a gift from Long Distance BFF Stacy.  Lucy never wanted for anything!  When we divorced, it was agreed that we would split time with Lucy but I couldn't find an apartment that would allow me to let her stay there.  When I had it arranged to stay at friend Linda's house with her, Jason had moved and wouldn't answer any calls or texts from me and didn't allow me to see her.  (THAT is why I took the big screen TV you jackwagon!)  Lucy lives in Wichita with her daddy and I have no doubts that she still lives like the Princess she is.  I wish I could at least get a picture of her every once in a while but I guess he hasn't yet got over the fact that life went on after him and I.  *sigh*

So now Quintin and I have had a few dogs now.  First there was Annie.  She's a RedTick coonhound that doesn't want anything to do with hunting.  She just wants to lay around on the porch or the couch, depending on what time of year it is, and mother every other animal around her.  We got her from Quintin's brother.  She was so skinny and I always felt sorry for her being an outside dog in the winter so I kept saying I wanted her, and eventually I got her.  The power of persuasion is great. 

Next came Josie and Tucker.  We got them from friends in Bedford.  They were brother and sister.  Part beagle and part wiener dog.  I called them my beaners.  Josie had a litter of puppies with Ashley's dog, Tucker, and we found homes for two and kept one.  His name was Bear.  I was (and still am) in love with him.  He was the smartest dog I ever met.  I have written about Bear in one of my first year blogs.  Bear got run over in front of our home and whoever ran him over, didn't have the guts to come and tell me to my face.  It devastated me and put me down for days.  It's still hard to talk about Bear and for a long time, Josie couldn't understand why her son wasn't around. 

Josie later had another litter of pups.  Three again.  One she sat on right after it was born.  At that point, I didn't think too much about it.  Thought it was an accident.  That happens.  We moved her and the other two in the house and put them in a gigantic kennel.  Big enough for Annie, our coonhound, to dance around in.  Josie didn't like anyone to give her puppies any attention.  She would move them out of our way and put herself in their place.  She wanted ALL the attention.  I didn't realize how bad it was until I came home one night and she had sat on another one as it was climbing around on the food dish.  I know she knew it was there and I know there was plenty of room for those pups to wander around.  That night, she didn't want me to have anything to do with her one remaining pup.  That's when I knew she wasn't right.  She was put down and again, that devastated me.  Losing dogs is harder for me than losing people. 

The one remaining pup, Buddy...whom we lovingly refer to as Buddha...remains with us.  Spoiled rotten and my faithful companion no matter what.  He is not allowed outside at all unless he is in the fenced in yard or on a leash.  I can not go through another devastating blow like I did with Bear.  I realize someday I will have to say goodbye to him but to even think about that makes my heart hurt.  So I am done talking about that.

I apologize for the length of this blog.  Purely unintentional.  Seems I can't stop talking about my furry friends.

Best Friend #12:  Your Significant Other

Your significant other, your best friend, your cheerleader, your cuddler...the one who is there for better or for worse.  Being friends first is what makes your relationship.

I'm not 100% sure I agree with the above.  Although, Quintin and I are best friends.  I love him with all my heart.  I have to admit though, I jumped right from one relationship into another (with him).  I didn't wait to become friends.  I'm not really that kind of person though.  I like to jump in and see what happens.  I don't recommend that.  Look at me...married three times.  BUT, the third time was a charm.  I can not imagine my life without him.  He makes me laugh and he makes me mad.  All in the same breath usually.  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  I can't say that he always understands what I am needing to say...or even understands what I'm getting at...but it just makes me try harder!

And last but not least...Best Friend #13:  Your number one best friend forever!

This is the friend that "trumps" all other friends.  It could be one of the friends from above, that is also another type of BFF.  This is the person you call in times of crisis or when something amazing happens.  You can talk to them...be yourself...without fear of losing them.  This BFF feels like family to you and they feel the same way.

I have a couple of different people that fit this bill.  Kathy and Beth.  They always share my happines when something amazing happens and they always sympathize (or empathize) when something devastating happens.  They are the ones that try to "walk me through" whatever it is I'm going through and try to offer up different suggestions on how to handle things. 

All in all, I think I am blessed to have the friends that I do.  And I would like to add one more to the list. 

Best Friend #14:  Your Spiritual BFF.

I think this BFF is one of the most important ones.  He or she is the one you can turn to when you need a prayer warrior on your side.  When your world has been turned upside down and you can't make sense of it anymore.  When you have doubts about your feelings and are ready to just give in. This BFF will keep all your secrets and take them to his or her grave for you. 

I can't even get through a day without thinking of my Spiritual BFF, Mendi.  Although she and I aren't "close," I can't think of any one person that I'd rather have in my corner.  When I think of her and her beautiful family, I get a serene feeling in my heart.  She helps me make sense of some of the things going on in this world and her prayers have helped me and my family in some of the worst moments.  Again, I am blessed to know her; And oh so thankful!

Again, sorry this was so long!  Sometimes I just can't shut if off, ya know!  Until next time...thanks for reading and thanks for being my friend!!!