Double your joy, divide your pain

I've seen different variations of this quote about Friendship. Basically though, that's what true friendship does. It doubles our joys in life, cuts the griefs in half. I'm not a huge fan of FaceBook but until everyone realizes Instagram is so much better - it's okay. They have a new feature where they send you pictures of where you were on this day "x" many years ago. Yesterday I got this one:

I wish I was there today! That was in the Bahamas. I was with a very good friend of mine. We had a fabulous vacation - one of the best I think I've ever had. The people were great, the food was great, the scenery and towns were amazing and I was with my best friend. 

Funny story: we actually met on a dating website. Hey, how else is a newly divorced ex-Jehovah Witness going to meet eligible men? When he wanted to meet me I was terrified. You grow up hearing over and over how all those men out there in "the world" are dangerous, they're only after one thing, they won't respect you and on and on. 

I wouldn't go on a real date but I decided I would meet him in a crowded food court between our offices. I actually stood there, watching him wait while peeking around a corner for about ten minutes trying to decide what to do. He was tall and handsome - no doubt about it. But I wasn't sure if I could go through with it. I did and we dated for awhile. The first time he came over to visit me at my apartment I hid a great big knife in case he tried to attack me. (I was brainwashed people! So brainwashed!)

Eventually we realized we were better off as friends and by that time he really was my best friend. He had introduced me to his daughter and his parents and eventually they became my really good friends too. His parents even let me and one of my subsequent boyfriends stay overnight on their yacht after a day of sailing because that poor guy was deathly allergic to my cat. His dad signs all his messages to me as "D" (for dad). His mom knits me scarves.

He and I have seen each other through a lot, losing friends, losing lovers, changing jobs and situations in life. Having someone there to hold your hand or give you a hug really does cut the grief in half. When I went through my recent bout of depression he just called and said "I'm on my way over". 

Then there's the doubling the joy part. Going sailing, dancing, skating, to karaoke, playing laser tag with his daughter, BBQ'ing with his parents...we go to shows and concerts and buskerfest (one of the best days I had last summer actually). I honestly don't really know where I'd be without my "family" of these people to keep me grounded. And because there are four of them, the joy is much more than double what I bargained for. Can you guess where I'm going for Easter dinner on Sunday? Home. :)

Sullivan out.