I believe.... part deux

Over the course of a lifetime, we all have friends.  I've had a number of friends, I've been blessed with quite a few really exceptional friends,  in high school there was Janet (who I still hope to reconnect with at some point) and TRK (who I keep in touch with via Facebook) and Milwaukee Tom (who calls me occasionally, which is weird for me because I'm just not a good phone conversationalist, but we exchange emails and keep up on Facebook).

My adult life hasn't had a ton of friends involved but in my early 20's there was a good, solid core group of people, some of whom I still keep in touch with.  In recent years, after, say, 2006, things tightened up in  friendship dept.  There was Lawyer Greenjeans, Lady P, T the Trucker, The Imaginary Friend (a friend of Christopher's who was invited to many gatherings for about 2 years and always had conflicts so we jokingly teased him that she was his Imaginary Friend) and Christopher (who has, sadly, passed on).  I'm also grateful for Fiddledragon's friendship and for her not taking sides when so many others did. I think the most long-term friend from that period I met when I was 27... Ms. M (whose first name is The Girl's middle name!)

Since I moved Just South of Nowhere I've come to really cherish the QUALITY of friends* and not worry so much about quantity.  The Author was the first I met... she's fun and we share a number of common interests. Plus, she's a published author! We don't get together nearly enough, which is mostly my fault.

But now to the folks who relate to the title of this post...  Stephie Pretty and JDiii have been friends since NaNoWriMo 2011.  We decided late in November last year that we didn't want to stop getting together every week to write so we kept getting together. And then started doing other things together and, honestly, it still makes me pause a little when I stop and remember it's just been a year since we met. In that time, we've celebrated birthdays and promotions, consoled each other through downsizing and I got to spend my birthday with them plus my Mom and The Girl which was pretty awesome (only thing that could have made it better was if Mr. POSSLQ could have been around for my birthday).

So, I went to our weekly meeting this evening and there was a pile of wrapped goodies on the table and I thought to myself  (well, a couple of thoughts)  1- oh crap, I didn't get my shit together in time to do the giftie thing tonight   2- I wonder who all the gifts are for... there's a huge pile here...  Turns out that the big pile was all for me... A set of brushes and oil paints, some paint thinner (gotta CLEAN the brushes), some palette paper, some canvases and an easel.  All of the things I need to start painting.  Honestly, I still don't know I managed to keep from bursting into tears I was so overwhelmed with gratitude.  Because, to have friends is outstanding... to find people who really "get" you and who want to help your dreams come true is a whole other level of awesomeness.

So, at some point in the near future, I have a date with Bob Ross... There are happy little clouds in my future.

This is your world
You are the creator.
Find freedom on this canvas.
Believe that you can do it.
Cause you can do it.

I believe
I believe everyday is a good day when you paint
I believe
I believe it will bring a lot of good thoughts to your heart.
I believe
I believe everyday is a good day when you paint
I believe
I believe it will bring a lot of good thoughts to your heart.

                                                  -Bob Ross Remix

Thank you Stephie Pretty and JDiii for helping me believe.

*for the purpose of this post, "friends" are people I have actually met in real life.  I wish to state for the record that there are several people I know via the internet who are very real, loved and cherished friends.  If I listed all of those folks, this blog entry would be much longer and my internet friends are definitely QUALITY folks.