...you say you have no friends?

I've not had many. There were times it made me sad, times I didn't care and finally, the time I realized I would never have two better friends than my daughter Lisa and my sister, Shirley.

Lisa and I have always been a close mother/daughter - but it wasn't until I began running, after years of smoking cigarettes and fighting the battle-of-the-bulge - that we became close women. When I thought I was all alone at my first 5K race, there she was, smiling and rooting for me. She had a lump in her throat as I crossed the finish line and thought to herself, Hey, that's MY mom. I should be out there with her. She began running then, and we ran many road races together after that. I no longer run, but she's runs marathons with her husband, Scott. Together they are unstoppable! She has always been there for me, no matter what, even when others may have written me off, she was there with her unwavering love and great big smile. My Lisa.

My sister Shirley is quirky, funny, and very special to me. She lives in Mystic, CT but that doesn't stop us from getting together whenever we feel like it. What's a two-hour drive? If one of us is in a funk, the other makes the trip. We shop, eat, and spend hours in the book store. We tell each other everything and know it won't be repeated. What friend can keep a secret, huh? She has such a flair for decorating, you just want to curl up in her little house and never leave. In fact, I feel like going there, right now!

Oh yeah, they are my two best friends in the world. Who could ask for more?

'till next time,

~ Dianne