=)

another time was when we had just moved to vermont and bought our first home. i had this whole yard and nary a gardening tool. looking in the classified ads i found someone selling a bunch, so i headed over and it was a recently widowed elderly woman. we visited that whole afternoon as she went through her deceased husband’s garage and sold me the duplicates. we kept in touch and i would visit her every couple months. she loved my kids and our visits. she died a few years later.

I make a lot of friends on flights. you know that strange phenomenon of people opening up and sharing with you on a flight because they’ll never see you again? well sometimes those conversations link people unexpectedly, and they become besties.

my latest bestie connected up with me because of my blog post about depression. she related and wrote me a long note and we’ve gotten together IRL and i just love her.

i was inspired to take bagels to someone one day who i had met but didn’t really know. it was an odd impression, but i did it anyway, and when i arrived, her water had just broken with her fourth baby. she wasn’t ready at all, and was actually a little bit in denial that this baby was arriving that night. i helped her gather her stuff for the hospital, and watched her kids till her parents arrived that night. we’ve been friends ever since. you just never know when something like a bagel is going to change your life.

Typically, I’ve been the one to do the initial reaching out, but last year a couple of gals moved into my ward who really reached out to me. It was so nice!

You do generally have to make quite an effort. When we serve each other,whether it be through goodies, or watching kids, or just being a listening ear it’s hard not to form a bond that goes deeper than saying, “hello, how are you?” It comes more easily for some than others, but I do believe that there is always someone who’s going to need you, and you’ll in turn need them. It takes time, but shared experiences, kindnesses, conversations will build those relationships.

Thanks everyone for sharing. Here are some virtual cookies for you-000

I’m always on the prowl for new friends. I pretty much always make the first move. I bring people goodies until they relent and agree to be my friend.

It’s a lot easier to make friends in a transient town than it was when we lived in Utah and everyone had grown up there and had their social lives set in stone.

I’ve found that making friends is pretty much impossible if you don’t go out of your way. At least for me.

in the past month, i’ve been on two trips where i met ladies who have become dear friends through blogging. shelah was the first person i ever met IRL that i’d discovered online. it always surprises me, just when you think “i’ve got my peeps. my posse is set” in this world, someone comes along who is so dear that they get put in the bestie-for-life lockbox. that is always so fun!

i♥you guys!