Saturday, July 7, 2012

Thievery is bad enough, but when one falls victim to someone they know…that’s inexcusable.  That happened to a girlfriend last night.  I noticed her sudden squeamish demeanor that had her desperate to shrug something off herself, as if it were literally creeping along her skin.  Inquiring what was wrong, I was told that one of our friends had stolen her not only her Iphone but also $50 from her purse. 

I was stunned, as this group of friends is close-knit and we all believed—until last night—that they were beyond trustworthy.  But apparently, we were wrong with that character assessment, for walking amongst us is a thief.  Not any thief.  The kind that will steal from strangers. Those are bad enough.  But this individual used their close connection to gain trust.  Trust that allowed them to do the unthinkable.

We’d been at my girlfriend’s house.  On the back patio, she had her Iphone plugged into one of those devices that allows it to amplify songs that are downloaded onto it.  Like the phone’s a stereo of sorts.  Sorry, don’t know what they’re called.  Anyhow, we’d all gone inside for a bit to grab some food.  Several friends lingered out on the patio.  Then a few left.  A short time later, my girlfriend went to check on her new Iphone music set up, excited about its ability to play music anywhere.  That’s when she discovered it had been taken.

We helped her move things around, hoping that perhaps it had been knocked of its base.  But it hadn’t.  A thorough search revealed that it was, in fact—gone.  My girlfriend reeled with the knowledge that one her trusted friends, whom she’d graciously opened her home to, had violated her in such a manner.

Her husband wasn’t there—at work—so she went to send him a text with one of her other phones that was in her purse.  That’s when she discovered the missing money.  A double whammy in less than five minutes.  My girlfriend expressed how she felt violated.  Like she couldn’t, no, didn’t want to believe the worst of any of her friends.  I mean, after all, these are friends she’d known and trusted—for years.  And now…this.

I realize times are tough and people are desperate, but to steal from others…especially those whom have placed their trust in you and opened their homes to you as if you’re family….  That’s so far beyond wrong, I can’t begin to grasp it.

Yes, I’m aware folks steal all the time.  Have fallen prey to it myself numerous times.  With each new occurrence, the same sickening feeling returns.  The one I watched my girlfriend try to shake off as if it were some foul clothing she could merely shrug out of, once clear of it, hoping things would return to normal.  That she wouldn’t feel like she’d lose her stomach.

Like I said, thievery is bad enough, but when one falls victim to someone they know…that’s inexcusable.         

Friday, July 6, 2012

I’ve said it before and I’ll state it again.  Friends make life not only more fun but also more bearable!  Humans are of a basic pack mentality, meaning that though there are those who prefer to go it alone, in the end, each and every one of us can benefit from interacting with others.  And, if we’re lucky—really lucky—those interactions sometimes forge strong friendships. 

Not every bond is alike or serves the same needs.  Each is unique in that it allows various aspects of us to connect with others.  Through those connections, we gain strength.  Shore others up.  Are able to share life’s happenings on a deeper base than we would with total strangers or by walking through life solo.  And through those interactions, life’s trials, tribulations and joys are put into better perspective.  

Alone time is important.  Something that should be guarded, but so too is the time we share our lives with others.  When we open ourselves up and let them see—really see—who we are—to our core.  For it is only through the act of making ourselves vulnerable that we can benefit from the bounty that being friends with others can provide.     

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Thanksgiving, for many, seems to herald in the season of folks reconnecting with family. Going to family functions where memorable stories are created. Where fond remembrances are revisited.

For me, Thanksgiving is, indeed, a time to be surrounded by not only family, but by those close enough that in my heart, they’ve become members of my family. It’s a time of breaking bread together, an act I don’t take lightly. Of taking the opportunity to pause life, if only briefly, to gaze into one another’s eyes as we have meaningful conversations that nourish our souls while sharing a meal that feeds our bodies.

In these trying times, Thanksgiving affords us the chance to get back to basics, not overstress about ringing in the holidays with costly gifts that many can’t afford and even more don’t find uses for. Thanksgiving, to me, is a time to give pause to what we already have—family, friends and the fact that we are alive. It’s not a time to begin a spiraling cycle of excessive spending.

And really, what’s the purpose of spending tons of money on silly gifts? Is that what the commercial industry has brought us to? Thinking that the only way others will be pleased with us is if we give them store-bought gifts rather than giving of ourselves? Or from our hearts?

As Thanksgiving grows closer, I find myself beaming over the many gifts I have and grateful that those whom are meaningful to me share my belief that the best gift we can give to another is that of ourselves

Saturday, September 4, 2010

You know you’re having fun when….

Thursday, I flew to Las Vegas for a five-day event where I have a lot of friends that I meet up with, one of those being my sister. Normally, when we get together, my sis and I, we don’t end up seeing one another very often, for we are in constant meetings, many of which are at different times and places. And in our down time, it doesn’t help that she’s a morning persona, and I am a huge night owl.

This year we decided to give us the best chance to see one another as much as possible by booking a suite together with our spouses. Due to flight complications, delays, etc, we missed seeing each other when they got in. Friday, we finally met up and had breakfast. Since then, we’ve decided to spend every possible moment with one another. And when everyone else turned in for some sleep, we opted to stay up and talk. Mind you, that was Friday night.

As of this writing, it’s now 7:00 PM Saturday evening, and neither of us has gone to bed, figuring that it’s more important to catch up with one another. And that we have!

In the process, we’ve had a ball, so much so, that it wasn’t until this afternoon that it dawned on me I hadn’t posted a blog for yesterday. Was I upset? No, for that told me that I was doing what I should be—spending quality time with a person who’s integral to the fabric of my being—as it should be.