Maintaining friendships

This week we received news of the death of an old friend in a southern nursing home.  She had died in November, well before I sent my usual card at Christmas, when I had promised to visit her early in the new year.  Last time we saw her she said she was unwell and tired of living, and feeling very ready to leave this earth.  Remembering that, I didn't feel so sad about hearing she had gone. But I would have liked to have seen her one more time.

Today I made time to catch up - by mail, e-mail and phone - with a number of old friends who are still around, but like me, getting on in years.  It took most of the day, but I felt it was time well spent ... especially when this little poem turned up in my IN box this afternoon:

Around the corner I have a friend,

In this great city that has no end,

Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,

And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friend's face,

For life is a swift and terrible race.

He knows I like him just as well,

As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine - but we were younger then,

And now we are busy, tired old men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,

Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim,

Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,

And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away...

"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."

And that's what we get and deserve in the end.

Around the corner, a vanished friend.

       &&&&&     &&&&&     &&&&&

I have two more friends in nearby suburbs who have recently been in hospital.  They are on my list to phone tomorrow.  This year I want to ensure I maintain a balance, sharing my time between family, real friends and newer blog friends.  Hard task!

 

In the words of John Ruskin:

        I still find

       each day too short

        for all the thoughts

        I want to think

       all the walks

       I want to take

        all the books

        I want to read

       and all the friends

        I want to see.

     &&&&&     &&&&&

Comments

[Val]

This post is excellent, Jude. I have been guilty of having good intentions but not acting on them. Today I will write to someone in Germany who I met in the 60s. Our friendship eventually lapsed through time and distance, but a mutual friend wrote that my German friend wanted to reestablish contact with me, but it was difficult after so long. I have her email address, and thanks to the mind-jog from your post, I’m going to take that first step today. I’ll have to brush up on my rusty German to do so though!

[Tabor]

Thanks, Jude. I have these thoughts many times but this poem is so true. Now I have my New Year's Resolution. And because I told you, I will have to keep it.

[kerrin]

Great Post and rings a bell for everyone to remember whats important in life.