You've Got A Friend In Me

        As an empty nester I depend on my friends for so many things.  Sometimes I need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to talk to.  I used to laugh all day long but the last few years have been kind of hard so I need my friends that make me laugh.  I treasure everyone that I hold in my heart as a friend but I have some special ones. I want to tell you about  three of my BFFs.  Oprah Winfrey said "Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo  but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."  These three friends, no doubt, would push the bus if need be...if they could.
        The first one is a beautiful, natural blonde ... and a typical blonde.  Lots of things go over her head but she is real good natured about it.  Kinda crazy, up for absolutely anything. She is so funny, always smiling a great big smile.  It is impossible to be sad for very long around her because she is just so gosh-darn happy.  She is very affectionate and loving. I need that.  Whenever she sees me she always lets me know how happy she is to see me.  That feels good. I don't know what I would do without her some days.  She is one of those nonjudgmental type friends everyone needs.  Like me she is a full figured girl because we both love our food!  LOL! When we eat together she always wants to try what I am eating!  We have a real good time together.  I am so glad we are BFFs.
       The second friend came into my life during a very difficult period.  It seemed like left and right, up and down, everything was falling apart or going downhill, fast.  Really a sad, sad time in my life.  I wasn't looking for a new friend when we discovered each other but I am glad we did.  We just ran into each other one day and knew we would be friends. She had been through a terrible, horrible, no good very bad time as well. We understood each other.  We became BFFs immediately, even though I was a little standoffish at first. I wasn't sure I had the energy for a new relationship of any kind but I  wanted to help her.  She turned out to be more clingy than I ever expected. She would not take no for an answer!  She decided we were going to be practically joined at the hip!  She was not going to let me wallow in my depression without her there to try to pull me out of it. Turns out I thought I was helping her but she ended up saving me.  She is a good friend, always there when I need her.  When I talk she just listens with every fiber of her being.  She is a petite little thing but a spitfire!  She can give me a piece of her mind every now and then.  Her heart is good though. She doesn't smile a whole lot but when she does her glaringly white teeth are worthy of a toothpaste ad and light up her entire face. 
     The third BFF I want to tell you about is a guy.  Great big brown eyes. Trim body.  Lots of energy and very playful, kind of a rowdy character.  He can curl his lip just like Elvis.  It is a hoot!  He is All Boy!  He can be a grouchy old man sometimes when he gets tired but all his good qualities make up for that.  His photo is below.  I love that redhead!  He has a baby and some time I will write about how it cracks me up to watch him and the baby.   It is so funny watching their bedtime ritual.  I sure wasn't looking for a guy at the time I met him.  Actually, when we first got together he belonged to someone else but that didn't turn out well as a long term live-in thing.  Andy needed a place to go so I let him move in.  I have never regretted it. Oh, I still share him with that other woman, but he lives with me.  He is my protector, my bed-fellow, my good friend ... and he is extra good to my grandkids.   This is my friend Zoe ...                                                               
 
This is my friend, little Gracie ...

 
and this is the guy in our life, Andy ...