Lucky Dorito

Sweet Shannon

Posted by Dory @ Lucky Dorito on Thursday, November 13th, 2008

I’ve sat here looking at this blank page for a full 15 minutes. I want to tell you how much my friendship with Shannon means to me. I want to tell you that I KNOW in my heart that our friendship is a gift from God, fulfilling a need in both of us. I want to tell you that as much as I treasure our visits together, I equally dread saying *goodbye* at the end of it. I want to share with you how unprepared my heart is each time we go our separate ways.

But I can’t find the words to convey the depth of those feelings adequately.

I’ve had friends my whole life – friends that I love dearly and cherish in my heart of hearts. I do not mean to make light of any other friends, I only seek to explain how special a relationship Shannon and I have together.

I spend much of my time playing the role that is expected of me, either as a dental professional, a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter… but in the past 20+ years since I became a parent – rarely ever do I get to be just ME. As a matter of fact, I think most women spend so much time being the person that they are expected to be that MOST of us forget what it’s like to just BE who we are. After a while of being in that role, we forget that we’re someone who once had dreams and ideas and desires and thought processes totally independent of the needs of others in our lives. Believe me when I say, I LOVE my husband and being his wife. I LOVE my daughters and being their mom. I even love being a dental hygienist and the role I play in my patients’ lives. But…. every now and then, it is nice to just be ME.

Me, the same little girl that worries about how she looks and if I’ll sound dumb to others. The same little girl that cries sometimes at commercials and often at movies. The same little girl that craves openness and honesty and being nothing but REAL.

Somewhere along the road of life, I lost that part of me. I became more focused on the needs of others – and although I don’t regret that AT ALL – I craved just letting my hair down and being ME, warts and all.

And that is when the Lord sent Shannon my way.

She is precious beyond belief and I truly love and admire her. We are total silly NUTS sometimes when we’re together, but we completely understand each other. In the early days of our friendship, I used to worry about what would happen when she got to know the real me, through and through… but I think that happened a LONG TIME AGO and yet, she still loves me! I enjoy our time together immensely and although my heart breaks a little each time we go our separate ways – I know that she is only one quick phone call (or text or IM or tweet) away.

Thank you, Lord, for sending me such a great gift.

I love you, SweetPea.

(Even if you did perch on the arm of my couch. )

Filed in Life,Me,NaBloPoMo,Randomness,Weirdness in my world | 11 dorito bits so far

11 Dorito Bits to “Sweet Shannon”

Shannonon 13 Nov 2008 at 7:34 am 1

OH my! That was so not fair. I just barely got my makeup on- just to cry it off. What sweet words this morning. Thank you sweet friend and know that I could have written the EXACT same post. I love you dearly and thank God daily for you. (Even though you posted that picture of me which is hideous!)
Doryon 13 Nov 2008 at 7:56 am 2

You so do NOT look hideous! You NUT! lol I think you look cute perched on the arm of the couch! hehe
giggleson 13 Nov 2008 at 11:23 am 3

That sounds so nice. Ive never had a friend like that and can only imagine. Enjoy each other
Vonnieon 13 Nov 2008 at 12:17 pm 4

What a blessing to have someone so dear in your life at this time! I am blessed to have a friend like that who lives close by and although we do not communicate daily she knows my heart. So happy for you both and glad that you’ve gotten to spend time together!
Jenon 13 Nov 2008 at 1:34 pm 5

I think BOTH of you are just wonderful!
Beccaon 13 Nov 2008 at 1:52 pm 6

Hideous picture? Are we seeing the same thing? Hmmmm? Shannon are you a little too self critical? There is your New Years resolution ala Becca…stop that! You hear me!!!
BEKon 13 Nov 2008 at 2:21 pm 7

What a beautiful picture Shannon! I love the “perched” look! You too are truly blessed to have such a precious friendship/sisterhood!
Jeankflon 13 Nov 2008 at 6:34 pm 8

I love having a friend like that.. and I’ve been blessed with a couple.
It’s amazing what the Lord can use the web to start!
hugs,
Jean
Stacyon 13 Nov 2008 at 8:46 pm 9

I am constantly awed by God and what He can do in the most unthought of ways. I love that the two of you have found each other.

I also have found this friendship with Laurel. It ook me a long time to let go and let her be that type of friend in my life. Even when I did not want a friend like that, God knew I needed her and she me.

And Shannon, I love the picture. You look like a little bird sitting there.
Thotladyon 13 Nov 2008 at 10:01 pm 10

What a treasure each of you have in each other.
Angelaon 14 Nov 2008 at 4:05 pm 11

I’ve been doing some posting about my own godly friendships. I think part of the reason I treasure some of my closest friends is how they influence my relationship with God, how we encourage each other, and when I read what the Bible says about friendship, I am blessed all the more because I have seen it in my own life.