Taking things for granted...

All too often we don't appreciate what we have. Things, precious things need to be recognized and appreciated and not, no not, no never, not ever taken for granted. We should covet them for the treasures they are.

Last night my niece was almost killed. Where she works was robbed and she and the other employees were roughed up really well and had guns held to their heads and threatened to be killed if they did not open the safe. It all turned out well in the end but it was very traumatic both physically and mentally. We don't need to take life, our safety or our families for granted.

I am in DE this weekend with friends. No, not just friends, dear, dear friends that I love like family. We all live in different parts of the country but met through work and decided to make a concerted effort to not let the friendship lapse. We email each other, we keep up with each other's family, we spend vacation time to get when possible and each November we get together for a weekend. This is that weekend. It starts with lunch on Friday, wine tasting party Friday night, breakfast and cooking all day Saturday and a huge gourmet meal Saturday night. We've been at it most of the day today and as we close in on dinner we were treated to a surprise. John and MJ are sharing a bottle of Opus One with us. This is a GREAT wine and runs about $250 per bottle! We drink a lot of wine over the weekend and hit John's cellar often. He and MJ are incredibly gracious hosts and treat us like royalty! But, to share this is way beyond anything anyone should do. When I told him he should not do this he looked at me and said "good wine needs to be shared with good friends." I did not know what to say but Thanks!

John is right. We are who we are and who we know and spend time with. We've been coming here for 10 years and we all look forward to it each year. It is a special time for us all. We reminisce about the times we've shared, family and family events and things that are going on in our lives. We share the latest news, show pictures around and talk about triumphs and tragedies. We are getting older, some are younger than others, some older but we are all facing or have faced the same things...kids growing up, parents getting older, parents passing on, parents being sick and we encourage each other through it all.

When I was going through a bad time with my Mom before she died they were there to bring me that special smile and memory that can only come through friends. I love these people, I love their families and spending time with them is always important to me.

Sharing is important, sharing your success and seeing happiness for you in their eyes, sharing failures and seeing love and support in those same eyes. Sharing concerns and seeing prayer and concern in those eyes. That is what friendship is about, the "spirited inspiration that comes from someone that knows you, trusts you and cares about you." We've been fortunate to be loved by these people and this weekend is as much a celebration of that as it is fun to get together. I treasure these memories and I'll carry them with me all year and I'll look forward to making more next year.

And the wine doesn't hurt either!