Missing Friends ...

Ever misplaced a friend?

You know. You're busy ... being busy. Days go by so quickly that you begin to wonder -'who left the "day faucet" turned on!

Then, someone comes to mind. A friend, that is. A good friend. And you wonder how they are. Where they are. ~ How long has it been now? ~ I really need to call them, email them, ideally - SEE them! I miss them ...(you think to yourself)!

You maybe - try to call. End up leaving a voicemail saying all the fun upbeat "Hey there! How ya doin'?!" ... stuff. You end it with an "I miss you. Call me. We should get together." ~ And on and on it goes. ~ The cycle of missing friends.

When you've relocated (as I have), or an accident or disease takes a friend sooner than is fair, it's a very poignant type of "missing" that you feel.

I liken it to an amputee. Who has that phenomena sensation of a phantom limb. For a while after that limb is missing - you still sense it - with you. But it, they're, not. Not really.

You carry on in your newly relocated place. Or, maybe it's a case where you adjust your days to live without that dear friend who's no longer with you. Either way ...

You arrange your home life trappings, all around. Hang a picture that "so-n-so" gave you - 'it'll go over here. Put the coffee mug that "so-n-so", and you, bought - at that fun little cafe' you both loved so much - 'on a shelf, over there. You move the chair that "so-n-so" just LOVED to sit in - 'over to that corner.

And you muse. You muse over your missing.

Sure. It still feels like those friends, that friend, is still near. Still feels like a well known limb that's still part of you. A limb that serves you in the most basic and important ways.

But, they're not. She's not. He's not. They're not - there. ~ *Sigh ... "there-there", your child like heart hears. It'll be okay. Yes. Yes - you miss them. But, it'll be okay ....

Funny thing is. It never, completely, is. .... Is it?