Sanguine Tenacious Tidings

Friends

Write about friendships that are more like family. What makes a great friend?

Friend

I have had friends in my life. Not necessarily here where I live now. A friend gets to know you. They don't evaluate you on what someone else says ( gossip). They don't bully you or attempt to give out bad advice. They share as much as you share. You don't have to fear that everything you say will be spread abroad for the fun at you're expense. They don't attempt to cut your children off from their own parent.

I have set out at least 3 different times to cultivate friendships. So far, I struck out. I often hover between silence or outspokenness. Someone quite a few miles away asked me once about friendship in this particular part of the country. She was having a difficult time but, did not live near me.

The truth seems to be to connect around here you have to go to church, be in a brotherhood or sisterhood, drink or take drugs.

This is a rural area with small tight knit communities. It isn't actually all that different from other spots in this country. When I raised sheep and goats instead of continuing with the horse community I lost my contacts with like individuals. Besides, people in those types of groups are now much younger.

Sometime after college, I decided a few years ago to join a local library book club and get back into social aspect of life I found the only people in the club were members of a sisterhood. There was absolutely no discussion of the book, that was assigned. I accidentally stepped on some of their beliefs when I said the book they assigned was an allegory. They tried to use psychology on me to put me to sleep and access an oracle. I excused my self and left. I know when I'm not wanted. I have the physical and mental scars to prove it.

In college I had some friendships and good acquaintanceship. But, college is a different social society. It accepts that there are all kinds of people and all kinds of beliefs, and lifestyles. Small towns and small churches aren't like that.

One day a women who was a few years older than I am came up to me in a store and started talking to me. She and I were once in a writing group sometime in the 70's that was run by a local ministers wife. The group shared our writing and helped each other with editing. The ministers wife was a play writer, who had been published. We were learning some good things.

This women in the grocery store and I were engrossed in a conversation when her husband came up and angrily tried to pull her away. It was obvious that he did not want her to talk to me or maybe to anyone. I stood up to him and he backed off, so her and I were able to finish our conversation to a point. It seemed to be important to her and she made some good points about how she was living and where she grew up, which was close to me.

If I'm ever going to have a human friend again someone else will have to step up because I'm not going looking for one.