NFBNJ-Seniors] friendships

[Janie Degenshein]

Subject: Friends
Got this from our own Jennifer Uchanow and thought I would share it here 
with our NFBNJ senior list

A newlywed young man was sitting on the porch with his father on a hot, 
humid day; sipping ice tea.

            As he talked about adult life, marriage, responsibilities, and 
obligations, the father thoughtfully stirred the ice cubes in his glass and 
cast a clear, sober look on his son.

            "Never forget your friends," he advised, "they will become more 
important as you get older"

            "Regardless of how much you love your family and the children 
you happen to have, you will always need friends. Remember to go out with 
them occasionally, do activities with them, call them ..."

            "What strange advice!" thought the young man. "I just entered 
the married world, I am an adult and surely my wife and the family that we 
will start will be everything I need to make sense of my life."

            Yet he obeyed his father; kept in touch with his friends and 
annually increased their number. Over the years, he became aware that his 
father knew what he was talking about.

            In as much as time and nature carry out their designs and 
mysteries, friends were the bulwarks of his life.

            After 60 years of life, here is what he learned:

            Time passes.

            Life goes on.

            The distance separates.

            Children grow up.

            Children cease to be children and become independent. And to the 
parents, it breaks their heart but the children are separated from the 
parents.

            Jobs come and go.

            Illusions, desires, attraction, sex ... weaken.

            People do not do what they should do.

            The heart breaks.

            The parents die.

            Colleagues forget the favors.

            The races are over.

            But, true friends are always there, no matter how long or how 
many miles away they are.

            A friend is never more distant than the reach of a need, 
intervening in your favor, waiting for you with open arms or blessing your 
life.

            When we started this adventure called LIFE, we did not know of 
the incredible joys or sorrows that were ahead. We did not know how much we 
would need from each other. Love your parents, take care of your children, 
but keep a group of good friends. Dialogue with them, but do not impose your 
own views, just gently put them out there to be taken or left.

            You might send this to your friends (even those you seldom see); 
who help make sense of your life ... I just did...










        Janie Degenshein
        Happiness isn't having what you want, but wanting what you already 
have!
        Facilitator of ECHO (Eyes Closed Hearts Open)
        state affiliate board member
        President of the senior division of the National Federation of the 
Blind of New Jersey
        President of the Technology division of the National federation of 
the Blind of New Jersey
        NFBNJ Newsline co-ordinator
        jdegen16 at comcast.net

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