Friemily...

I looked around the table at those dear beloved faces yesterday and gave thanks for my family. We were gathered for a funeral. Catherine’s husband Art died last week after a long illness so his death was not unexpected. Walt, MaryLynn, Ida, Gus, Claudie, Janis, Michael and I had come to be a part of Catherine’s public goodbye to her husband. As we drank coffee and lemonade, I listened to Claudie try to tell MaryLynn what to do for the umpteenth time and of course she didn’t do it. Walt showed us his new trick... using one arm to lift another arm... taught to him by his myasthenia gravis. Gus, diminished by illness, could still summon a twinkle and a pithy comment. All the women hugged, compared outfits, spoke of the inconsequential along with the monumental as we loved on one another. Our presence was all that was required for Catherine who was surrounded by other family and friends. She sat with us towards the end of the reception and we planned meals for our next gathering at the end of June.
It is impossible to explain the connection we feel for one another, this family of choice. The early time together spent building a church in Cherokee formed bonds that somehow have been redeemed in our old age. Now when we sit around tables, we ask about children and grandchildren, bear and bare our struggles together with grace and gratitude, laugh a lot, hug a lot, cry a little and as always, leave looking forward to our next gathering time.
Good family is hard to come by and I have been graced with an abundance of friends who are family and family who are friends. Grady Nutt got it right when he coined that phrase. I do not take this gift lightly. It is a wonderful benediction to receive at this time in my life. Some friemily are of long standing years and some are relative newcomers but all are cherished for the gifts of love and straight talk they bring to me.
A phrase from Job... the friendship of God was upon my tent... is the perfect description of the manifestation of God’s love at work in my life through friends who are family and family who are friends. Catherine, how can I keep from singing?

An inside family joke_ Catherine used to get so mad at me in Cherokee when I woke up singing in the morning at the crack of dawn. She who must have coffee to speak was not amused by my morning concerts and told me so.