While sitting by myself at Crazy Bowls recently, I had looked up from my phone to watch a mom walk in with her little girl that was holding an American Girl doll. The little girl handed the doll off to her mom & kept walking toward the counter. I smiled at her mom, as I remember the days of holding dolls. Or as Bryn would tell me, "they are REAL babies, mama." She loved & took care of ALL her babies like that. And she expected me to treat them that way as well.
She would take at least one of them with us everywhere we went. We even had a doll's car seat in the back of my car for her "babies."
I spent almost as much time holding & taking care of the "real babies" as she did. In fact, one time a stranger came up to me & asked how old my baby was.
Me: "Ummm, it's a doll."
Stranger: "Oh. Wow. Hahaha."
Me: "Yeah, I know. She makes me take care of her babies, what can I say?"
Nervous smile from stranger as they walk away embarrassed & I'm thinking... you really thought this thing was real??
Our perception of what is real & what is fake can be said for many things. Like friends, for instance. And even with friends... whether they're real or fake, they all play a role in our lives. Maybe the fake ones don't play as big of a role for us when we're sick or beaten down... or happy about awesome news or big accomplishments.... but they're still fun to hang out with sometimes. They're just not who we count on to show up for us when it really matters.
And one thing you come to realize as you get older is that you only need a couple real friends you know you can count on. Whether you talk every day, or you rarely see each other... you know they're there, and you know they'd be the first to celebrate with you or the first to offer a shoulder to cry on. So it doesn't really matter that others aren't there in the same way.
And if one day you don't "play" with them as much as you used to... or you even out-grow them altogether... it's ok.
Fake or real... they are part of your life for a reason & they've shaped who you are...
You are real and so glad I know you and I love your comments, it's like you look in my heart and express my feelings in your blog. Your sharing, also, reminds others that there not alone. So well shared. Love, Judy
Posted by: Judy Morgan | November 09, 2014 at 06:22 PM
You are amazing!!!!!
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | November 09, 2014 at 07:23 PM
Very thoughtful post! By the way, I love the picture at the top of this. Is that your sister? You are very right when you say there are different kinds of friends. As I look back over the years, I am amazed at how my groups of friends have changed. There are those that have come and gone but still were a part of my life. Just a side note, when you said "fake or real" I thought maybe this was some closing thoughts on October and getting a mammography!! LOL I look forward to seeing you this week!!
Posted by: Charla | November 09, 2014 at 09:34 PM
Been thinking much of the same thoughts lately as I have considered friends who have come and gone and their role in my life. What you so eloquently shared, I have told my daughter for years. Although, my version didn't seem to make as much sense. haha. Thanks for bringing clarity to my thoughts. :-) Love ya!
Posted by: Lisa Howard | November 11, 2014 at 11:56 AM