New Friends

Kate Braestrup was interviewed on NPR this weekend. She has written a book I intend to  read  Here if You Need Me
I was so impressed with what she had to say about caring. The end of the story is known...I often read the end of the book so I can enjoy the whole book, suspense isn't what I like in like so if I know the ending is good I can enter into the story and breath without skipping parts or fast forwarding as my kids tease me about. ( I have been known to fast forward parts like lions tearing people apart in order to enjoy a movie)  So we know the ending we can walk easier in life and the part that makes it easier is those who walk with us.
I enjoyed having lunch with most of my girls this weekend. It is not often that we get to be together but I try 1 time a year to take them out and listen to them. I like to guide conversation but my grandson was with us and it was fun to just let them talk and for me to listen. They are part of my group that walk with me in life and it is really nice to have people you know so well be the ones to join you on the journey. 
Yesterday I gave a lunch with some of my favorite people who have encouraged me this past year. It involved women from their early 30's to their 70's, bus drivers to women going to school in their late 60's. These women inspire me so much and they like to cook and eat which is a must for friendship with me. What a blessing to me to have these women surround me like this. It was really fun as I had 3 of my 4 lifetime women who live in other places just call yesterday.It was a day full of friendship. That is the part of life I like the most.
So now Kate is a new friend of mine. I like to have friends of people who don't even know I exist. Some of the best of my friends who have influenced my life are dead friends, writers can be very close to people and never know it. Elizabeth Goudge is my best friend now. I am so loving her works and finding them in used book stores. It is alway a joy to own a new book and make a new friend in the process.