Friendship

Yesterday, I spent some time with and talking to friends. They're all so different and in different stages of life as well. Their paths are unique and interesting and I love watching and listening to them as they share the joys of life. That's the easy part of friendship though. The part that requires insight and giving something, like words or thoughts, that might be helpful or relate to an essential growth in their life, that's the part that isn't about ease, but about strength. The strength to take a moment of hardship or heartache and urge it toward a place of ease again. To embrace the moments a friend turns on a faucet that may pour fury or confusion or doubt, and to be the tub that holds the 'water' as it cools into a comfortable temperature, to let them calm down into that transitioned, slightly shifted tone of what was before- this is friendship in balance. When the reflection they see in the mirror isn't clear, the friend wipes the smudge away. The friend props or pushes, holds or harnesses, whichever applies, when it has nothing to do with having a good time. This becomes the friendship full of meaning. When the conversations that are only revealed to the trusted last hours and end in laughter and uplift, a truth is found. The pure connection that time spent together reveals is precious. This is not a virtual idea, but a physical proof of true friendship.

We should see the life in our friends' eyes more. We should feel the air vibrate with their laughter. Or, let their voice resonate in our ears from the other side of the phone line more often. 

Facebook and Instagram and texting, these are useful methods of accomplishing a lot of things, but not true, solid, impenetrable friendship. Friendship is personal in the least. The heart and mind, they want the physical back- basic forms of physical, non-virtual life. Putting substance back into communication on a regular basis. It matters.    

Yesterday, I spent some real, solid time with my friends. Today, I reap the reward of feeling more than before.

Atlanta, tonight

From here, in Atlanta, the sky is amazing. At 9:30, daylight lingers in pieces of the sky. Between voluptuous clouds the shade of eggplant, so beguiled by the vision of the night, lurks a stubborn light. Like the flesh of a peach, a ripe and juicy peach, it stays. Perhaps it too wishes to view. 

The moon is high and bright, the halo surrounding it mimics the rays of the sun. Moonshine. The clouds near the moon are more jagged and they itch to bring an eery slant to this powerful glow. Not to be confused with a cheerful and direct sun, the shrouded moon remains mysterious and capable. The moon knows something. 

The twilight blue subtly merges into a deep indigo and those ever so attentive clouds have a rage about them. They have deep bellies that hang low with a rooted purple. As well, they look to be a delicious bite.

It's an emotional sky that has just put up an enormous fight between a muse of a moonshine and a heroic sunlight.       

News!

I have news to spill!

I will soon be writing:

1. from a newly designed, more stylish blog! The new blog should be way more fun to read. 

The time this will take to fully establish is undetermined, but I'm estimating sometime in September for completion. In the meantime, I'll adapt this already functioning blog to suit the writing I have in mind that will be revolving, in part, around…

2. our upcoming move to Montenegro!!!!! 

The timing on this is approximately one month away. By the end of July, I will be writing from the Balkan region of the world, from this beautiful place called Porto Montenegro. 

The back story on this is a blast, in my view, and I can't wait to tell you more about it. Until then, bear with me and give me mucho feedback so that I can try and incorporate what you say into the new format. 

Here are a couple of pictures found online of Montenegro. You can see its dynamic nature and the contrasts that make the landscape so appealing to the human eye. Is it gorgeous, or what?! 

City of Kotor

Porto Montenegro

I should get a new camera so that I can take vivid photographs, and share them with you, of all the places I intend to go and explore. In fact, if anyone has a camera in mind that is ideally sized for romping around and being active and that also takes crystal clear images (with no professional skills necessary) please send me the info. The idea of taking readers into some of these places I've looked into is so thrilling! I want to share it all!!