Friendship; the currency of our lives?

by Patricia Angoy

Author’s image: A bench on which I shared time, this year, with a friend of over 50 years.

Some of us turn to our friends in the bad times, in times of trouble and heartache. Toni Morrison speaks of a time, towards the end of the year, when she was feeling sad and unable to write. Then the phone rang. It was her good friend who told her that this is the time to write, when it is hard and not only when the words flow easily onto the page. This is the time, when you don’t see a way through. When the horizon is blurred, the land is barren and the mind races. This is the time, like no other, to write and be productive. To give and be forgiven. This is the time when everything seems hopeless and night filters into our days. When we cannot reach the joy in each new dawn. This is the time to write, and seek out the good within.

The friends who are able to pull us out of our mire, to see our better side and to trust that we can reach where we stretch, they are here, nearby in our lives. They respect us and care enough about us to listen as we share our most intimate feelings and help us to see into ourselves, and even through these times we live in now.

Morrison talked also about the power of our women friends – and I suspect men too have these kinds of friendships together – but women friends are very unique in a woman’s life. She says;

“She is a friend of my mind. She gathers me, man. The pieces I am,

She gather them and gives them back to me in all the right order”

Toni Morrison, Beloved.

I have spent the last few weeks, this November, trying to gather up my friends into my mind. Reaching, seeking them out before they become only memory. Writing letters, making calls, drawing on photographs and shared moments of mutual affection that has become love. When there is nothing else to give, they are, as the great Toni Morrison says; ‘the currency of our lives’.

Who becomes the currency of your life?

10 thoughts on “Friendship; the currency of our lives?”

  1. Beautifully written. I would add by quoting Leo Buscaglia : ” A single rose can be my garden…. A single friend, my world”.

    Like

    Reply

  5. Toni Morrison is just something else. In America they call them ‘pen pals’–People that one exchanges letters with. I disagree to a degree. Letter writers are history keepers, not mere pen pals. They are archiving for future archeologist and researchers. There is also this connection between and a paper that cannot be described. The distilling that one does. The close that one gets to the one they are writing to and receiving letters from. The nakedness and vulnerability that comes with it. I would say that is the currency but a letter I got from you a year or so ago is priceless. The pricelessness of that memory is probably its currency. See Patricia? You always make me think. I always miss and appreciate your blogs.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Letters and more letters. How I look forward to receiving yours and can now see how our exchange is a kind of archive, not only of our friendship but of the times we live in, our thoughts and beliefs and our dreams for a more just and equitable present and future. Thank you for pushing me, and those who read your comments, one step further.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. So beautifully written. Thank you, Patricia. I always look forward to reading your words of wisdom, Always so true and full of fruit for thoughts; and despite the challenging times we are living in reminding me there is always light. Thank you for our friendship.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply