I cherish my friends. Some I worked with. Some I went to
school with. A few I went through pregnancy with. After moving to a new state
with an infant, no job, no friends and looming divorce, I was blessed to meet
some wonderful women who were also going through divorce and raising children
the same age as mine. Years have passed. Our children are grown. Some second husbands have come and gone. Happy to say my second husband remains..
I never noticed what color, size, shape, ethnicity or
religion they were, or which political party they aligned with. I would not
have cared if I had noticed. Our friendships were based on our shared
experiences, confiding our hopes, dreams, worries for ourselves and our kids.
We held each other up through illnesses, heartaches and hardships.
Most of these friendships remain. But I'm frequently
noticing an elephant in the room. When we talk about our lives, our kids, our
mutual friends, we have the same relationship as always. But, other than with a
precious few, .. never, I mean NEVER, can we talk about current events. The
slightest hint of anything in the news and the conversation inevitably goes
bad, feelings are hurt and tempers flare.
So I still get together with friends, although maybe less
frequently. Extended family also. Long-time bonds remain .. but there's an
elephant in the room. We don't mention it. We act like it's not there. But it
is. It is there, and it gets bigger every day as we are more divided than ever
and our country and the world spins out of control.
I fear for my country. I fear for our children's future. They
don't see it. So sad....
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