Friendship Awards - The Most Cherished of All

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy explains friendship as a distinctively personal relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other, for the other's sake, and that involves some degree of intimacy.

My first friend, Jeanne, lived in the green house next door. We played dolls and cars. We planted dead tree branches in her yard and watered them everyday, dreaming they would grow into giant oak trees good for climbing. We alternately babied and ignored her little sister Stacey. We spied on her big brother Chris and his group of strangely intriguing friends. She stood up with me at my wedding and learned to dance the Cotton-eyed Joe at my reception. To this day I know I can call her and it will be as if we just spoke yesterday. We will pick up the conversation where we left off the last time we spoke and end it with "love you, girl!"

Blogging opened a new avenue of friendship for me. Since I started LifePrints I've developed "virtual" friendships with a handful of writers on the web. Some I only know through their avatars and comments on discussion boards or blogs. Others I email regularly and feel as if I know them as well or better than my "real life" neighbors. I've met one of my new friends, even went on a trip to New York with her. What a hoot that was! She was a great traveling companion.

The Internet has certainly changed the way friendships are made and has opened a world of possibilities. As always, I believe that people come into my life for a reason, and me into theirs, as well. Recently, two of my best blogging buddies awarded me with badges of friendship. I cherish them just as I do my "real" friends, like Jeanne.

Francis at Caught In The Stream , one of my best blogging buddies, gave me The Colors of Friendship Award. He's my newest uber-intellectual, mind stimulating, idea challenging buddy. If I ever visit his city I'm expecting to at least go out for coffee with this interesting man. I've told him before that he thinks circles around me but he humbly denies it. His writing is concise and beautiful in the same breath. He's a poet as well as a man of big ideas. I'd be hard pressed to find better or more worthwhile reading anywhere on the web. Now if I could only convince him to run for public office, that would be great!
I've decided to give The Colors of Friendship badge to Wendy at La Delirante. Wendy was one of the first bloggers I made contact with and I've enjoyed reading her blog ever since. She intrigues me because her life is so different from mine. She's from El Salvador but lives on the little island of Malta. I have to admit when I first found her I had to look at a world map to figure out that Malta is off the coast of Italy. With each new post she opens a window to a way of life that I'd never have known about without her. Thanks Wen. Keep writing and I'll keep reading.

Heather at The Wishful Writer gave me this beary friendship badge. I know if we met in person we'd have a blast together. She shares so much about her personal life on her blog that I feel like I've known her, her girlfriend April, her Granny, and heaven forbid Blemish, for years. I know more about her neighbors than I know about my own. She always answers comments, making her readers feel included in the joke. I talk to my husband about her as if I'd just talked to Heather on the phone. "You're never going to believe what Heather said today!" At least now he's stopped giving me a look of total confusion when I mention her name. So thank you Heather. You're the best.

I'm passing on this cute badge to my friend Lisa McMann. She is an accomplished Young Adult author. Her first book entitled WAKE will be on the shelves in March of next year. Get it and say you heard about her when because she is going to be big. I can feel it. She has more in the works so don't despair, you won't have to wait too long to read the next installment of Janie and Cable's adventure.

Thank you again Heather and Francis. If we ever meet in "real" life just look for the blond with the big smile and open arms looking for a hug!