A Hallmark Moment

This is how Foxy and Jake traveled in the back of the van throughout the many years my husband and I visited family. Two dogs leaning on each other for support down a rocky highway, especially when that highway took them over a mountain and the ride became bumpy. They cuddled up to each other and never felt the rough patches. Foxy still has that security with five new pals since Jake has gone. At any given moment she has a dog to rest her head on and a pal to romp with. All six in the house only a nose butt sniff away from each other.
If only it were that easy for people. No butts for me to sniff at my house, to speak in doggie lingo. I felt a little widow crack sneaking in today. The day was so glorious I wanted to share it with someone, but there was no human to be found. Just me and the dogs and the dogs had their fun already. It was time for their couch crashings. I grabbed my vintage thrift store leather jacket, put on my lip gloss, fluffed my hair and headed out the door to see the life around me. A week full of friends and dates, but a small window of loneliness this afternoon with the sun shining so brightly it hurt my eyes and the air so crisp I couldn't breathe in enough of it. A day to be shared with someone special and I was alone.
I think we all have days like that. Everything is running well, then suddenly there is a moment when you want to reach out and no one is there. It is especially so for those who live alone, but that feeling can creep up on anyone at any time.
I did get an e-mail today pronouncing that it was Friendship Week. I think that e-mail has been passing around a good bit, as I Googled Friendship Week and it was some months back. But I loved getting the e-mail. Someone thought of me. It made me smile when it came in. I forwarded it on to five more people. Maybe they would smile too. Maybe they needed a little pick me up telling them you're in my thoughts.
Every day should be a friendship day. One where we let our friends and family, those we love and hold dear, know that we care. That we are thinking of them. No matter how full a life, you never know when a crack may be picking at a heart and your call will be the glue to mend it.
We all take for granted tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow. My widow wisdom to share is do it now. It is never too soon to say a simple hello, how are you? You may interrupt someone in the middle of their busy day and hear "can't talk right now". But I bet they will smile that someone thought to call. Right after my husband died I couldn't get enough calls. Then I'd make calls thinking, I'm bothering my friends again. I soon found out that there were days my friends needed a call more than I did. We were both at peace after a brief "how ya doing?"
Sometimes I am too friendly, but I'd rather err on the side of offering friendship to someone who may not want it rather than wonder if I've overlooked someone. It's an error I think we all should make more often.
Widow Lesson Learned: Letting someone know you are thinking of them is better than the icing on a cake. It is the cherry on top.

 Stop and smell the flowers. Take time to call your friends and family!