Day 546
There was a wonderful song we sang back when I was a Brownie in the Girl Scouts. It went like this:
"Make new friends, but keep the old!
One is silver and the other gold!"
When I was a little girl, I loved that song for it's tune and rhythm. Now, the words hold true and make me thankful for my "silver and gold" friends every day!
Today, I had the absolute joy of bonding with one of those new, "silver" friends! A serendipitous meeting, along with our love of Goldens, made this morning a reality. Sharon posts her walks at the dog park with Gracie pictures each morning. Having an eye for the glories of nature, she adds spectacular photos of the world around Gracie as well. I look forward to those pictures each day and, suddenly, had the irresistible urge to take that walk with her. Joined by her charming husband, all eyes and hearts were on Gracie. This 13+ year-old Golden has the sweetest disposition of any dog I have ever known. She is an Old Soul.
Our walk was early, so we actually witnessed the sunrise and felt the world warm. Gracie took her walk in stride and displayed such a zest for life! By the time we finished, our four-legged leader was ready to be helped back into the car...probably looking forward to a snooze when she arrived home.
Friends are a blessing in life and I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams with the best! If you defined a friend with these qualities:
*caring
*dependable
*fun
*empathetic
*wise
*loving
*intuitive
*devoted
...I have more than my share.
Treasuring friendships, old and new, takes some dedication and tenacity. You can love these people, who have touched your life, but lose contact so easily. We get busy and the months turn into years before we realize what we have lost. All it takes is a phone call, a text message, a card or a coffee date to let them know they are important in your life. That is such a small price to pay for such treasures!
So, today, I had a walk that will stay in my heart forever. It felt like I had know my new "Silver Friend" for a lifetime...but that is the best new friend to have. As with other treasured friends, this couple (and the amazing Gracie) is worth every effort to stay in touch and watch a new relationship blossom. In the end, it is not an effort at all, but a gift to the soul. I believe Gracie would agree!
