This month, I’ve been so lucky to be able to spend time with my wonderful friends. A couple weeks ago, Jen came out to visit from New Jersey (it was so good to see her!) and we got together with a bunch of our other good friends from college while she was here.

And then later this week I get to spend a couple days with Amy, Lisa, Christine, Shannon and Amie  for our annual girls’ get-together. I’m really looking forward to it! So in honor of these amazing ladies, and in honor of friends and how much they enrich our lives, I’m putting up a friendship post from the archives.

May you be surrounded by good friends today!

The story about the three friends in the coffee shop…

They sit there–the three of them–at the table by the window in the coffee shop I often write at.

It seems like they’re always there, whether it’s at the beginning of the month or the end,

whether it’s a Monday

or a Friday.

The same three men, the same table, the same ceramic mugs.

They’re older…

with gray hair,

weathered skin,

and deep laugh lines.

I admit; I’ve listened to their conversations.

It’s hard not to.

They talk with a sense of familiarity that makes you want to know what they’re saying,

and how they came to be such good friends.

(You can tell that they are.)

They talk about family.

And news.

And retirement.

And politics.

Sometimes they disagree and their voices get loud,

but they never get angry.

Most of the time,

they simply share stories,

and ask each other questions,

and smile.

Every so often, one of them will talk quietly–too quietly for other people in the coffee shop to hear–and by the way the other two men lean in with a look of concern on their faces, you know they’re discussing something serious,

even sad.

But you also know,

just by watching them,

that whatever the burden may be,

it is lighter when they leave,

because they’ve spent time together.

And that’s what being with true friends does.

Doesn’t it?

May you be surrounded by a multitude of true friends!

Other friendship stories:
The story about the best friends on the train
The story about the friends in the coffee shop