Amatie (French for Friendship)

I love that kind of hum drum, depressing kind of music. I don't know why I'm particularly drawn to it. Of course, I love upbeat happy tunes as well like Sinatra, Christian -mostly alternative, jazz, Brodway Musicals - can't beat Les Miserables "Who am I?....24601!" Oh, if only you could hear me really sing it. Thankfully, you cannot although some of you probably to your unfortune have.. I really came to love James Blundt's first C.D., esp. the song "Cry"

I have seen peace. I have seen pain, Resting on the shoulders of your name. Do you see the truth through all their lies? Do you see the world through troubled eyes? And if you want to talk about it anymore, Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder, I'm a friend. I have seen birth. I have seen death. Lived to see a lover's final breath. Do you see my guilt? Should I feel a fright? Is the fire of hesitation burning bright? And if you want to talk about it once again, On you I depend. I'll cry on your shoulder. You're a friend. You and I have lived through many things. I'll hold on to your heart. I wouldn't cry for anything, But don't go tearing your life apart. I have seen fear. I have seen faith. Seen the look of anger on your face. And if you want to talk about what will be, Come and sit with me, and cry on my shoulder, I'm a friend. And if you want to talk about it anymore, Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder, Once again. Cry on my shoulder, I'm a friend.

I think that's often what friendship is. Listening over and over even if it's the same story. I have friends like that and I'm always amazed they don't kick me to the curb and shout "Enough!" Henri Nouwen says

“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.”

I have some friends like this. They have seen all of my flawed self - they have infact seen me hope, fear, be angry. I have infact cried on a friends apartment floor with her over and over. And sometimes that's enough. Sometimes they have, like the song, turned me back from destructive ways. While there is a time and a place for helping, offering advice, and by helping I mean not just advice, but tangible practical help if you can - sometimes one just needs to cry...on your shoulder....once again.
And then you get up. And dust yourself off. And you stop crying and you laugh. The friends you can laugh and cry with...those are your friends. I have a friend who we tried working out together. We would laugh so hard we would be on the side of the road holding our stomachs....falling over. I guess it was a different kind of workout. These are the friends I am so grateful for and to. So, laugh, and cry. And then turn on Sinatra for awhile and "think to myself what a wonderful world...."