August 2, 2008

Today finds me thinking of Friendship.  Real Friendship.  Sharing something you enjoy with someone, and perhaps doing something new because your Friend wants to share their likes with you.

""More generally, the value of the Platonic conception of friendship is that it is open ended: there is always more to discover and enjoy in the best friendships. Friendship is a way of life, in the sense of a being a constant process of becoming with others. It is distinguished from other kinds of love by a dynamic that results in an increasing self-awareness coupled to knowing the other better. Friends want to know each other and be known. And, the best friendships are not confined to a mutual introspection, but are fed by the common striving of the friends after knowledge, goodness or wisdom which lies beyond them both."" - Mark V

One of the hallmarks of a person who is more likely to be a friend-that-was than a friend-for-life, is that person quotes anonymous people who say they were my friend but I betrayed them. That’s such a huge turnoff, that usually wakes me up in an instant. A friend would never even consider saying something like that, because it’s so objectifying, so impersonal, so unfair, so un-friendly. In a court of law you’re entitled to cross-examine your accusers. Same in the court of friendship. - Dave W 

Dave & Mark bring up interesting points, what is and what isn't Friendship.  Friendship isn't someone telling lies or gossip, and wanting to you share & spread their hate.  It isn't mass emails filled with lies aimed at doing harm to anyone out of jealousy.  Make no mistake -- that's hatred --, not Friendship. It isn't being told who you can be Friends with - - that's childish.  And that's why you never see that from this site, Webmaster or any of the Moderators. 

Today, I thank those of you who have continued to forward as attachments the hate emails other's have sent.  Please know we appreciate your doing so. Keep ignoring them and keep forwarding them. :) And keep feeling the Love!

Friends reach out across miles, through language barriers and into the hearts of others.  We translate words, even though we know their meanings within our souls. Mountains, Prairies and Oceans cannot stop us from sending a kind word, a good thought and uplifting message.  Friends spread Happiness.

I want to thank all of those I have come to know and call Friend.  Each of you with a pure heart, no malice and only kindness.  We share a bond of André Rieu's music, and constantly seek other similarities while we relish our unique differences. We share and spread Happiness. We are Friends, and that is a very good thing. :)

 Please send your story and photos to   
Sally@AndreRieuFans.com   
We will put it on  the web and you can help   
create this tribute to our favorite Maestro.