Somehow, I can't remember some lost friends, without hearing their voices in my mind at times, and remembering their philosophies, and things they said. Joanne, God rest her soul, used to say "tongue in cheek"...if you go around thinking everyone's a S.O.B, you only have pleasant surprises. At this we'd laugh. Robin, God rest her soul, had a marvelous sense of humor, and throughout her mostly difficult life, she found things to laugh at. I can remember friends from days gone by, who I pray are still living, and I recall their kindness and seemingly wise old soul ways. The friends I adored had emotional intelligence. Now, everyone doesn't have that. Sure, there's book learning, but that's not the same as emotional intelligence. It can't be learned from a book. They were mature and wise beyond their years, and loving and empathic. Many times I think...now what would so and so be saying now...I've tried to incorporate the best of these people into myself as well, and emulate the good I experienced from them. It's a way of keeping these wonderful friendships of long, long ago, alive and well inside me. I hope I've passed down alot of good stuff to my children and my grandchildren, too. What I liked so much in those friends, was the understanding, patience, and tolerance they showed. They were not quick to judge, but instead, tried to put themselves in another's shoes. They were not quick to anger or strike out at others, but tried to remain calm and think clearly, and solve problems without getting enraged or saying hurtful things. They were a cut way above so many people. These friends will be with me forever and some! God bless. Kris