Don't forget to take care of your friendships

La orana ladies and gentlemen! (that's hello in Tahitian)  I have recently returned from an 8 day trip to French Polynesia.  I know, I know it's rough work, but someone has to go to see those hotels.  It was a fabulous trip.  I think the best part was the group that I traveled with.  These ladies were AWESOME, very fun!  I think our hosts will remember our group for quite some time.  I think at one point we were told we were the most fun group they had had.  Unfortunately, SMB was sick most of the time, so my wit and sarcasm were a bit dulled.

Recently, I have been thinking about the relationships and friendships that we have in our lives.  You know, ladies and gentlemen seriously, our friendships are some of the most important relationships in our lives.  You can't pick your family, but you certainly can pick your friends.  Which means that the ones that are important to you...you MUST treat delicately.  Classy men and women make sure that they take care of their friends regularly.  This means everything from picking up the phone to picking up the bill to perhaps picking them up off the floor when needed.  Many of us live in areas away from our immediate families (mine are in Nebraska and Kansas...not close to Chicago) and so when emergencies happen, our friends are the ones that need to help us.

Recently, I had a situation where a friend involved me in a situation with her family that made me very uncomfortable.  Additionally, she was a bit disrespectful to my family.  And now I don't know if we will continue to be friends, I haven't heard from her.  And we have been friends since we were 15 years old.  Thinking that we aren't friends anymore makes me sad.  So ladies and gentlemen seriously, be careful about how you treat those relationships.

A long, long time ago, I had a very good friend in school (it was a guy friend, heck I think I was in Junior High).  And we had a falling out (it was SO long ago, I don't even remember what it was about and honestly I am sure it was stupid).  And I took the higher road and called him and simply said I was sorry.  You know what, that's all it took and we are still friends to this day.

And then there was a time recently, when I reached out to a friend on his birthday, we had not spoken in over two years.  He stopped communicating with me....still don't know why (soon to find out).  And he was very grateful that I had extended the olive branch, even though the ball was probably in his court to reach out.  Glad to have you back around, HT.

So I think you all get my point, being classy means saying you are sorry when needed or even if it isn't needed.  If you are lucky enough to have several "best" friends, don't forget to tell them how much they mean to you.  I am talking to you ..... Smiley, Mattie, Southern, Gorgeous Redhead (now blonde).

Fall and winter are upon us ladies and gentlemen seriously.  Don't forget to keep it classy under those boots and heavy coats.

...keep your heels, your chin and your standards high....
BONSOIR, CHEERS AND CIAO BELLAS!