Friends - A Precious Commodity

My niece wrote on her FB page the other day "I didn't know there was an expiration date on friendship.  Why didn't somebody warn me?"  I've been thinking a lot about her statement.  Obviously someone had recently hurt her and was no longer her friend.  Well that sucks!! 

Somewhere I read about different levels of friendship. I have about 5 levels in my life.  But every level includes gray areas. The levels ebb and flow with time and circumstance building/subtracting.  They are a living organism.
 
Best Friends: (BF) They get me; even when or especially when I'm stupid.  My BFG is small.   They. Know. Me.  These folks are THERE for me. I can ask for help or understanding or a slap up alongside the face.  Most times what I NEED is the slap.  They GET that I stand up and fight on the outside but often am cowering in the corner on the inside.  There is no need to hide from them. BF's don't pull the "YE" (You're Expired) card. 

Close and Good Friends: (CGF) They don't know my bra size but I do spend a lot of time with these folks. My CGF group is made up of good solid people.  It is somewhat larger than the BFG.   Again the "YE" card is rarely used.  It's mostly a fade out issue.  Most times when I connect again the CGF comes back.

Friends: (F) I hang out with these folks and have a good time with them but they don't know my inner thoughts. I am very superficial with these folks.  Good to be around when life is good.  My F group is large.  We travel and so we hang out with different F's at different times/years.  It's great. With F's it is a matter of time/place/space/kids involvement issue instead of a "YE" issue.  And it okay.

Acquaintances Group: (AG) This ginormous group of mine is wonderful.  I have acquaintances all over the world and love to touch base with them when we travel in their area.  Also these people are all around and I see them often.  I know their names and a minute bit about their lives and share small talk.  They could be a favorite waiter that knows my "usual" to an artist I used to book or a volunteer that used to work with me.  The YE is never used here.  These folks are not close enough for me to care if I get YE'd or not.  Who cares? 


Finally: (PF)The Pseudo Friend or The Pretend Friend: This viral group is pretty small in my life.  Thankfully.  In my experience these folk are dangerous and at times so hard to identify. I've experienced of couple of these PF's that masqueraded as GF's or F's. Then BOOM! they reach out and bite you!!  I'm getting better in the discernment area.  It's about time.  The YE is the PF's BF!  Go figure!  So I deduced my niece must have categorized a PF as a BF/CGF and THAT was the problem. It was a case of a PF masquerading as a BF/CGF/F's.  I hope she realizes it was them and NOT her.  Don't give them another thought girl.  They don't matter. 


Once I identified MY groups I settled in to ponder my friends.  I've added new folks to every group in the last few years.  The BFF's are an awesome group and much bigger than I could have ever imagined. I am so blessed.  The PF's no longer have much influence with me.  Hopefully I can continue to put the brakes on when I "get a funny feeling" about someone.  

I love the first three groups; don't care enough to care about the 4th and 5th is just a freckle on the behind of my life. 

As seen on TV..........sigh

I have religiously avoided "as seen on tv" gimmicks throughout the years.  It is ironic that a word was even coined for the gimmick: The Infomercial.  The word in itself sounds rather educational and above all else appears harmless. The infomercial sells miracle everything.  Miracle glue, miracle exerciser, miracle slanket (look it up yourself), miracle sewer fixer, slap your chop, puppy potty patches, ovens, sharks, shakers  and of course the obnoxious Oxyclean dude.  He makes me think about homicide - I'm not sure that guy's mother can even love that voice.  Blck!  But, not only have they coined a descriptive word they have their own website.  It lists every product (100's) and stores like Walgreens have an entire section devoted to it.

I admit I have looked and studied and read but have never stooped so low as to actually buy anything until last week.  I must have been in an end of year doldrums or something.  But I had finally had it with my bra strap falling down off my shoulders every 13 seconds.  I have tried sitting up straight; pulling the strap tight; leaving the strap low.  Years ago I sewed cute little bias tape snaps and attempted to corral the darn straps.  Nothing has worked.  So I bought the "Strap Perfect".  This will solve my problem.  This was mistake number 1.

I opened the box and hunted for the directions.  None.  Nowhere. Zip.  I thought this surely can't be that hard.  There were 3 pairs of 3 colors of little oblong plastic things. I thought ok - 3 pairs; this is good; and began to try and fit them together. After a few minutes I realized this wasn't cutting it so I once again searched the box for visual directions.  On the back in a little picture was an example. Oh! You only need one plastic clip and I studied how to attach it to my bra.  I attached the clip then wondered how on earth I was going to get it on.  This was mistake number 2.  I mistakenly thought a 61 years old woman wouldn't need any help getting a bra on OR off. (Well a 2 person "off" in the past wasn't a problem either. sigh)  Sorry. 

I held TB (the bra) up by the straps and studied it.  OK.  Each arm in and just hook it in the back.  WRONG!  Ok.  Hook it up and then slide it over your head.  After all you've seen women put a bra on this way.  - Never mind that you've always thought these women were idiots.  I was willing to overlook my earlier unjust "judgementitis".  I hooked it up; held it up to admire my supreme brilliantness; mapped a plan of attack and slid my head through the appropriate opening. 

OMG!!!  Did I put my head through the wrong opening???!! 

O Spit!! What AM I gonna do? 

1st: CALM DOWN! Breathe! Now, reach up and pull it down.  Ouch!  Damn!  Easy, easy ok just a little more.  There it's on.  NO!  OMG!! 

Mistake number 2.  I am alone with help no where around. 

OK REALLY.

1st: You've GOT to CALM DOWN! Now Breathe! says my sensible side. Calm down and breathe.  What was wrong, one might ask?  

My shoulder blades are touching one another in the back; the top of my shoulder bones are pulled up to my ears so tight I can't hear a thing except panicked breathing.  In the front my arms are pulled up so far that my hands are left dangling limply near my armpits. I am trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey ready for the oven. AND I CAN'T MOVE!!! 

O Spit!  O Spit!!   

1st:  It is ESSENTIAL that YOU CALM DOWN! Breathe.  Now go get the scissors and cut your way out of this thing.   O SPIT!!!  My arms are up so high I can't reach the door hinge.  O SPIT!!   I'm locked in.

1st: You have GOT to Calm Down!!  You calm down I scream to myself looking in the mirror at this horrible apparition!!  At that I realize I'm about ready for the looney farm; so I calm down and think.  Moving slowly and deliberately I inch the contraption up and FINALLY off.

I then realize the real problem was the straps.  I extended them out fully; hooked the sapsucker up; slid my head in and Waaalaa! no slipping down straps.  I think I might even like them.  Life is good and a side benefit is my neck isn't hurting as much since I'm sitting up better.

However today I happened to see the Infomercial (This was mistake number 3)..........it shows how you put your bra on then reach over your head and snap the little thing on.  It looked sooo easy.  And of course the "sweet young thang" was still young and limber and COULD reach over her head.

1st: Remain calmed down................ sigh   Now repeat after me:

I will NOT buy As Seen On TV.....I will NOT buy As Seen On TV.....

Happy 2011! It's Gonna be a GREEAAT Year!

 We survived the windstorm of 2010 at Cedar Cove and will probably survive the cold.  However we are not going to without griping about it.  Other than part of our awning and a building on grounds all is well here in "sunny" New Mexico. 

The marks where the building was.

There the building ended up down the hill.

We had a wonderful New Year's Eve and THIS YEAR we made it to 11:15; so celebrated with Nebraska who is on Central Time.  A caterer here in the park made one of the best Prime Rib's any of us have had.  Then we played Bunco and finally GOLF. We have been talking about Bunco for three years so I decided we'd learn how on New Year's Eve.
 

Sharon working on a puzzle. 

These are the biggest potatoes I've ever seen.  They bought 50# and got 48 potatoes.

A wonderful array of good food. (Thanks Cliffie)

Newell and Linda patiently waiting for their number to come up.

Steve Bell, owner of the park arrives for his Prime Rib.

Randy cutting each piece to order.

Emile is not REAL sure he is happy about this game called Bunco!!

Donna, Karen and Cliff working the dice.

We had FOUR tables of Bunco. Dave go the first BUNCO!!

And THEN we played golf.  It is 10:18 and we are fading FAST!!

Yes, ladies it's about THAT time.

 

And at 10:57 p.m. we called it a night!!