THE FAMILY WE CHOOSE

The only difference between family and friends 

although both enchant, delight and amuse…

is that destiny selects our family…

while our friends…are the family we choose:

There is this group of women I am blessed to know

who met when they were younger…many years ago.

Their friendships formed in school and in the places where they dwelled

and while growing up together…their friendships grew as well.

I wonder as they look back on those innocent times from their past…

It they ever dreamed, way back then, how long their friendships would last.

But there came a time growing up…the end of their high school days

when this group of friends, as often happens, went their separate ways.

Some stayed in touch with one another…others lost track of who, what, where and when…until fate brought them back together and they were those young friends again.

For one of the beauties of friendship…is that once a friendship begins

It’s like a revolving door…always open…and easy to step back in.

And so I marvel when they get together…sharing stories…sharing smiles

watching as they bring out old memories to savor for a while.

As I watch these now older women relive memories created many years before…

they all seem to be a little younger than when they walked in through the door.

Which makes me marvel at their friendships…marvel at how they came to be…

and wonder at what point did this group of friends …become a family…

If I’m ever asked for the definition of happiness…

I know what I’m going to do…

I’ll quietly point to this family of friends 

as they share some smiles…

a few laughs…

and a memory or two.