* Birthday Friends

I just recently celebrated my 61^st birthday! Yes, I know that most women “my age” don’t usually go around sharing that information but I am very proud and happy to have yet another birthday. One of the joys of my special day is that I share it with some very special people who were also born on July 9. I call them my “birthday friends”. Even if everyone else forgets me (and they don’t, thank goodness), I can always count on my birthday friends to send me a card or give me a call. They are a reliable group. One of my very closest friends just happens to be one of my birthday friends which makes the day even more special being able to share it with her.

These friends as a collective group have been through many trials in their lives. Each of us have faced either a major illness, loss of a spouse, natural disaster or life altering event. Yet, we have survived. Changed from the event perhaps but still here. At some point haven’t we all been asked to endure a challenge? As television host Robin Roberts mother said, “Everybody’s got something”. It’s important that we don’t forget that and treat each other with respect for whatever the “something” is another person has been through.

For me, having this group of birthday friends has made those struggles bearable because I know come July 9 they will all contact me as if to say “Hey, I’m still here. We made it another year!”. I do have many other friends in my life without whom I could not survive but knowing that my birthday friends are always out there rooting for me is comforting as well. Who are you special friends? Those of us who are lucky enough to have truly good friends are blessed indeed. Celebrate your friends whatever the bond you share.

Blessings, Cindy J