Who Wants Friends?

I once asked my granddaughters, ages 7 and 9, what was the most important thing in their lives.  And, without hesitation they both answered, "Friends!"  As they talked further, I could see that making friends was their way of creating their own world and becoming independent.  Friends were not only fun and an extension of their family, a friendship was something they valued highly.  They treasured their friends.
 
My mother-in-law is at an age, 97, where there are no friends left, only a few family members to interact with, to check in on her, to make sure she is safe.  She claims not to be lonely, but she is reluctant to let one of us leave when it is time to go.  Older people value friends, as much as younger people, but their opportunities to create new ones are more limited. 
 
My mother-in-law is lucky in that she lives in a senior apartment complex that is run by a most unusual woman.  Betty is bright and bold and deals exclusively with older citizens.  She does it with grace.  The one thing we asked when my mother-in-law moved in was, "Are the residents friendly?"  Betty assured us that if they weren't, she made sure they changed.  No clicks on her watch.  Betty is a friend to all who are within her world.  

Between the young and the old there are masses of people reaching out to each more now than ever as times get tougher.  The computer and the accompanying internet have isolated people in many ways, and yet they have found ways to find friends in that environment.  Working situations are less personal, more mechanical than they used to be.  That is why I think this large group of people treasures real friends above all else, just like the young people and older people. 

Who wants friends?  Everyone!

By: Sally Huss

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Sally Huss' Happy Musings are syndicated by King Features for newspapers. She makes them available FREE to her members, along with previews of her downloadable self-help books (10 Great Thoughts on Love and 10 Great Thoughts on Friendship) through her website. You are allowed to use this article as long as you include the resource box above intact.