~Common~

Day 23 Common

My husband has told me more than once that he’s intrigued by the friends I choose. “Most of your friends are so different from you,” he tells me. And so I ponder that and wonder if that’s true. 

Many of my friends have strong personalities. Maybe that’s what he means. One of my friends, a single mom,  is a well respected family therapist.  I met D when we were both attending  a small Christian liberal arts college in Langley, BC in 1978! (yikes, that sounds like a long time ago!). She was from Liberia, and had heard about this college through some missionaries. I was living a half hour away from the college, never having travelled out of the country at that point.  We became roommates part way through the year. 

She was an extrovert, made friends easily, and was very popular, always looking for the next party or event. She was tall, thin, black, and beautiful. I remember thinking she was the most beautiful person I had ever met. 

 I was a shy introvert, didn’t need a lot of friends, just an average looking girl, and was content to go home on the weekends, so I wouldn’t have to socialize too much!   On the surface we had little in common! Yet, we gravitated towards each other and have maintained our friendship for over 40 years, even though we have only lived in the same city for a few years when our children were very young.

 She and her daughter are a part of our very large extended family, attending camping trips, family reunions,  family weddings and funerals.   She is really more than a friend-- she is like a sister.

 I guess what we have in common is an appreciation and love for each other just as we are. We have learned that trying to change the other just doesn’t work!  

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