Comments on: Dinner With a Friend

By: sarah henry

sarah henry — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:12:45 +0000

totally agree with your sentiment, ruth. i count my blessings every day for the great galpals — near and far, young and old, longtime and new — who listen, laugh, and love. where would we be without ‘em?

By: Joyce Saenz Harris

Joyce Saenz Harris — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:17:13 +0000

Amen to all that. I’m sure my husband wondered why I spent such huge chunk of that Saturday with you when you were in Dallas last month…on a day when our granddaughter was visiting us, yet.

You and I know why we do stuff like that. Phone calls and e-mails are OK substitutes when distance intervenes. But there’s just no substitute for quality time spent talking, one-on-one and face-to-face, over lunch or dinner or coffee with a real friend.

By: Winston

Winston — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:36:53 +0000

I’m sure I don’t know why we breathe oxygen either, what with us living on a planet whose atmosphere is 79% nitrogen. Be that as it may, I think an Oxygen Bar would be an excellent rendezvous spot for meeting up with old friends for a chat-fest.

By: Sheryl

Sheryl — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:36:01 +0000

This is a lovely sentiment, Ruth. I couldn’t agree more…friendships are as important to me as my own marriage and children. They add something to life that is essential (oxygen!) The worst blow I ever got was losing my two best friends to cancer. Part of me never recovered from the loss of such close friends. But I’ve been fortunate enough to have many friendships spanning miles and years. It takes work, but the work is worth it.

By: Jennifer Margulis

Jennifer Margulis — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:34:37 +0000

It’s so nice to have longterm friends like this who have known you since forever. I love how your voice was hoarse from so much talking. I think some men do have intense friendships as well but you are right that most don’t have the same experience talking with friends that women do. I’m about to meet a friend for coffee. I can’t wait!

By: Cindy A

Cindy A — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:22:59 +0000

Agree with Tessa. Girl talk is best without the spare corpses.

By: Anne Gibert

Anne Gibert — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:37:23 +0000

You are right, friends are so important. I have lost track of many of my old friends, and that makes me sad. I have a big family, and I count cousins and sisters in law as close friends. Those I haven’t lost.
A time arrives in the life of a daughter when it becomes necessary for her to boss her mother.

By: Almost Slowfood

Almost Slowfood — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:17:14 +0000

What would I do without the women in my life. I recently had dinner with a good friend whom I hadn’t seen in person in 4 years. Not only did we stay out talking well past our bedtimes, but it felt like we were still roommates in college. There’s nothing like having a connection with people where time and place does nothing to dent your mutual interest and intimacy. Great post!

By: Tessa

Tessa — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:53:09 +0000

I know exactly what you mean, Ruth. I have a dear friend in Ireland, whom I only see now and again, sometimes after years have passed. But every time we get together, it’s as if we had seen each other just the other day. The problem is that, when we do get together, our husbands are usually along for the ride, and they stand around, like spare corpses at a funeral, making idle conversation and wondering if we’ll ever run out of oxygen. Then one year my husband gave me the Christmas gift of a lifetime: a trip to Ireland on my own. I stayed with my friend and we talked non-stop for a solid week, staying up into the wee sma’ hours every day. But we never once ran out of things to talk about.

By: Frugal Kiwi

Frugal Kiwi — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:56:27 +0000

I’ve kept up with my good girlfriends since moving half a world away via phone and email, but I sure miss having a sit down dinner or movie-fest with them. Nothing like it.