What does that word mean? I think about it all the time. I feel it is a word that has many layers. Like an onion. Or, petals of a rose. I think that I never — I say never learned what it meant. Growing up I had friends and my sisters that I played King of a dirt mound with. Or, played softball with a huge ball that hurt when it hit you. Sometimes these friends and I made forts in the woods in front of our house. I don’t remember if I called them friends. I don’t know where they all are as of today. I never kept track of that first layer of friends. But, I do drift back and forth from being on the big dirt mound — proclaiming I am “King of the World.”

Going through the grades of school I had friends that had the same interest as me. I don’t remember junior high. I was having some mental health issues and my memory is spotty at best. I did belong to a group of Campfire Girls. WO HE LO. Anyone recognize that mantra? I guess we were friends. We went to camps and I was a Horizon Girl counselor. I don’t know where any of those, I am sure incredible girls, are in the world. Another layer peeled off.

Then high school came. My friends were like me and very drunk with teen power to do whatever we wanted to do. I was a good student turned bad, the Principal told my Mother. My friends and I would go off campus in my navy blue Fiat station wagon and head to Denny’s. Where we would sit and drink black coffee and smoke cigarettes’. I also had a huge rabbit with me — Harvey. I did have other friends when I sang in a small singing group. But, only notes and singing voices floating in the air blending together formed the friendship. No, don’t know anything about that group. Another layer gone.

That is just the tip of the iceberg of how I had friends and developed friendships. As, I started my ladder of growing through the years I peeled off many layers. Or, I tossed many petals.

College I had wonderful connections. With girls that were like minding, loving and combustible with joy. I thought this is friendship. Running around together doing silly things like putting soap in the city’s fountains. Sneaking into the World’s Fair, drinking and dining at the downtown Wool’s Worth. I had in my mind through college that I had hit the trifecta. Friends. Friends. Friendship. Sadly, I don’t know where most of those incredible girls are that lifted me up with their billowing spirits. And, the ones I did keep by holding an invisible hand stretch out to them have passed away. I know how the heart thinks about friendship. It hurts when one is gone.

I am going to wrap this up here for now. It might sound pedestrian. More to come. But, would love to hear everybody’s ideas on Friendship and Friends. What word do you use about Friends?