You gotta have friends!

Hello to all!

I remember the words from an old song with the refrain, "You gotta have friends"! I love my "alone time", but there are times when we must get out there and circulate with our "golden friends" and make new ones.

My mom used to say about me, "No matter where you go you always seem to run into someone you know"! She was so right, and I love it (especially when it's someone you don't mind seeing)! You welcome them and they welcome you with open arms and you exchange hugs and laughter! It's a wonderful thing!

Last summer I went to see a women's choral group who sings barbershop quartet songs. They are called the "Sweet Adelaides" and came back to my hometown to perform. It was reported that several Red Hat Society groups were going to be there for this concert as well.

During the intermission my Geography teacher from junior high school appeared out of nowhere. I made the effort to go up to her and reintroduce myself. I don't know if she truly remembered me or not as it has been so many years ago. Perhaps, it was better that she didn't?? I must have frustrated her back then as I stood in front of the entire class (which I considered to be torture) as Mrs. Davis challenged me to find some country on the map. I had to be coached while everyone looked on, and I returned to my desk feeling relieved, annoyed, and embarrassed all at one time! And yet that night at the concert in the park was a gift from God for me. I got to see an old friend and someone who tried very hard to teach me about the world. For you see, when I checked the obituaries with my hometown paper today I found that Mrs. Davis had passed away!

Mrs. Davis, I learned, was very well educated. She never had any children of her own, but we were her kids! She stood probably around 4 feet tall and wore little outfits and little shoes. And yet she didn't seem threatened by any of us. She would sit on the front of her desk in our classroom talking with us and flipping her shoes around until they almost fell off.

So the next time you go somewhere and you see someone from your past make an effort to go up to them and reintroduce yourself because this may be the last time you ever see them again! This is a gift from God to you!

Good night, Mrs. Davis, and thank you!