Friends come and go, they're supposed to

I finally understand that if you live a good life, which includes education, adventure, sadness, love, happiness, and about four million other things, then you will change your friends along the way.  This is not bad at all; it's natural.  If you are the same exact person you were in high school, with zero life experience, still living in your childhood bedroom, and ditto for your best friend, then it is very likely that 50 years later you two are still best friends.  But I've had an interesting life and I've had friends who hung around for 25 years, then left, and my closest friend these days I've known for eight years.  In between, I've been friends with the parents of my children's friends, and when my kids move on, I often do too.   I've had friends from grade school whom I lost touch with for 20 years and now I talk to them every day.

I was devastated when some of these friendships ended. Other times, it ended up being a relief.  It was sometimes an end of an era, or just a stupid misunderstanding between otherwise reasonable people.  But this is SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.  Your friends should grow and change right along with you.  If you've had a great friendship for 10 years, don't be sad when it's gone, be glad you had 10 great years.  And for those of you who are still friends with your best kindergarten pal, be grateful everyday for such a unique blessing.

Enjoy your friends today, but be sure to keep an eye out for the another one you might meet tomorrow.

Too young to die, too old to live

I just have to get it in my head that there is no rhyme or reason as to how or when a person dies.  I just read how someone's mother died at the age of 46, leaving behind teenagers.  To me, that is heart breaking.  Yet, I spend a lot of time at a nursing home and see people who wish they had died five years ago.  They're hunched over and their faces are almost unrecognizable - not pleasant, not angry, just tired of living and waiting patiently to die. That is also heart breaking. Some of us have sweet, happy children who die.  That is beyond heart breaking.  Then, when I hear about an 80-something person who died and everyone is crazy-sad or shocked or heart broken, I think, Get over it.  Just how long are we supposed to live? What's the acceptable age to die?

I used to hate when I heard the expression 'death is a part of life'.  But now I finally agree.  Death happens every day to all kinds of people.  My husband would get angry hearing about a child or young mother who died but the serial killers and rapists in the prisons seem to live quite a long time.  It's lousy, but there is a reason for it, I am sure;  I just haven't figured it out yet.

I believe we have souls or spirits that last forever and that we come and go through the world to learn and teach lessons.  I still want to punch the idiot who tells the mother that her dead child is now in a better place. (If the mother wants to say it, fine, but nobody better tell a grieving mother that her kid is better off without her.)  So this is all very tricky and confusing. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the company of my friends and family when I'm lucky enough to see them because one day (and it could be tomorrow) they won't be there.

I will never understand the Kardashians or their followers

While I don't actively watch anything with 'Kardashian' in the name, I don't live under a rock either.  This family is absolutely everywhere and I am befuddled by the entire phenomenon.

I am not aware of any overt talent, intelligence or philanthropy from these people.  What makes them so popular?  I always wonder whenever they pop up on a magazine cover or make a news segment.  My husband wishes them some kind of suffering to snap them out of their cluelessness and give them a dose of REALITY.  But who are we kidding?  These folks are laughing all the way to the bank, all the while wearing super expensive couture and having throngs of fans watching their every move.

Is this a commentary on our society that enough people watch their television show that it gets renewed year after year and they no doubt are filthy rich because of it?  WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE WHO WATCH THE KARDASHIANS? WHY DO YOU WATCH THEM?

Society is going to hell in a hand basket - and a famous designer one at that!
PLEASE stop following Kardashian noise and pick up a BOOK!