"Cause You Gotta have ... Friends" (Please sing this title!)

This week we marched right past our second anniversary in Wien. Hard to believe. As I thought about the last two years, I thought about the things that have taken place: buying things to go in a flat, enrolling kids in new schools, studying a new language, buying groceries, using new currency, writing numbers in a different way, buying bread by the truckloads, drinking coffee by the buckets … all new experiences that have now been mastered.

Then, as I began rummaging through my digital photo album on my computer, I thought about all the people that I didn’t know two years ago. Two years ago, I came with just the friends I had collected through my 40 years. However, in two years time, I have collected a spectrum of friends from all over the world.

Ok, so what is a “friend” anyway? When I’m in a pondering kinda mood, I choose to ask my friend Webster what he thinks. According to Webster (as in the dictionary if you are not following me) he says a friend is:

1. One attached to another by affection or esteem
2. One that is not hostile (Ha! This is my personal favorite!)
3. One that favors or promotes something
4. A favored companion

Webster then goes on to give synonyms of the word “friend”. I love synonyms. They make the world such a nice place to operate/live/exist/survive in. So, “friends” can also be referred to as … alter egos, amigos, buddy’s, chum’s, compadres’, comrades, confidants, cronies, familiar, intimates, mates, musketeer’s and pals.

It is now my life’s goal to quit using the word “friend „and begin using a new synonym every time I make reference to an alter ego.

Ok, being the very contemplative one, and filled with words that need to trip off my tongue and onto a page, I got to thinking about this collection of amigo’s I’ve acquired/gained/got. Some I see every day. Some I see seldom, but desire to see more. Some are acquaintances I’ve made through school. Some are chum’s that share the same sense of humor. Some have been thrown into my life through my daughters/offspring/reproductive outcomes. Some have been places in my life through shared job/career/calling. Some will leave soon. Some will linger in my life perhaps forever.

With this varied description/profile/report of compadre’s, it doesn’t take long before you see the handprint of God. Each crony, as varied/diverse/mottled as they all are, have one thing in common: they have been designed/considered/premeditated by the Creator of the universe. He knit them all in their mother’s womb. He chooses for them to cross my path/lane/corridor at this appointed time in my life. To me, that’s just fascinating (long pause for dramatic emphasis and reflection ...)!

So … as I look forward/onward/ahead into my future here in Wien, I wonder who else God might bring/transport/fetch to be my musketeer? One thing is for certain/sure/assured – it won’t be by accident/mishap/mistake. God, who knows how many hairs (grey and all!) dwell on my scalp, also knows the buddy’s He will allow to crash/collide/smash into my life. There will be a purpose, a time table and a result.

In honor of the mates He has put in my life so far … I made/prepared/completed a video that shows a glimpse of those pals that have been introduced/brought/shoved into my life these past two years. Now, I will be honest … there are a few pics of comrades that I’ve known for a really long time (Bettina, Marti, Shannon). I’d like to tell you some mushy/sentimental/heart- felt reason why they made the cut. Truth is – I needed more photos! Several pics are familiar’s of my daughters … which in turn have become my “friends” too!

Here’s to friendships/alliances/camaraderie! May the gift of relationships always be something we are grateful for … (Just a little technical note: when you click on the arrow to play this slideshow, you then need to push the play arrow once again to get the pics rotating. The music will begin and one photo will come up but if you don't push the play arrow the pics won't change.)

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