It didn’t take long and I knew it wouldn’t. I just wanted to think about it for a few days before I posted.
The picture at the top of this blog became a big hit on Facebook, yet it is but a snapshot of the many, literally hundreds of pictures I could post from the past two decades I have known my wife and her friends. Not that a picture like this shouldn't garner attention on its own merit, four beautiful ladies basking in the sunshine and blue skies during a Sunday game at Camden Yards. Even though the Orioles ended up losing, the day was a big win.
The girls in the picture, (left to right), Jill, Debbie, Lisa & Andi, have known each other a long time. And let me add a disclaimer here, for all the other friends my wife holds close and dear, (cause I know they'll be coming to get me), there just isn't time or space on this blog to put up all the pictures today. I could fill at least the whole row at the ballpark with my wife's closest friends. But don't worry the blog isn't going anywhere, all in good time girls, all in good time. 🙂 Remember it's just about life…so there's much more to come.
The bonds run deep here, my wife and most of her close friends have known each other since they were girls, they have stayed in touch, more than in touch, and part of each other's lives through the years, as they transformed themselves into women, wives and now, as moms. In fact the four beautiful ladies in the picture all live in the same neighborhood now. We are fortunate to have such great friends, literally across the street, and right around the corner from our home.
Why? Because good friends become family.
The fact that I know them almost as well as my wife does is a testament to what they bring to our lives in love and support. When Debbie battled breast cancer this past year, the response was overwhelming, every one we hold close stepped up to the plate and delivered… our team of friends batted .1000. Hall of Fame, every one.
The "girls" spend a good deal of time together, sharing everything from wine, to dinners, to nights out, to shopping, to workouts, to perhaps their greatest accomplishments…raising their children. We are fortunate to have a group of women we can turn to and trust to take care of our girls in any situation. We in turn do the same for them. It is truly a blessing beyond belief.
Understand I'm barely scratching the surface. The picture brought these thoughts into focus for me, but it is quite literally a second in time of the many minutes, hours, days, months and years that these friends and so many others impact our lives. If we are lucky in life we are born into loving families, if we are even luckier in life, there are great friends… the family you meet along the way.
To the beautiful friends in the photo, and to the many who live just outside the borders of that picture, but who live inside our hearts, we say thank you. Thank you for becoming part of our family.
Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark