Looking back I was always taught that friendships come in all shapes, sizes, colors and belief systems. As I think of all the friendships I have formed throughout the years, they have been exactly that, some tall, short, skinny, plumper, many different races, heterosexual, homosexual and some Catholic, Protestant even Baptist!! I have never been one to have friends that are all the same. For example in High School I had friends from the Jock crowd, the Stoner crowd, the Rocker crowd, the Preppy crowd and one of my best friends was a Cheerleader. Having a variety of friendships and accepting all those who may be different than me is what has always felt right. Just like in High School, my friendships now are all from various ‘crowds.’ Democrats, Republicans, Independents, those who worship God, Buddha, or just believe we came from the big bang. Some are business owners, Blue collar or stay at home moms. I don’t just hang with people that make the same amount of money as I do, that I could care less about, some are very wealthy others are middle class.

You see we got this Dr. Rob letter from a gal that basically was not accepting a decision a good friend of hers was making. She was pretty torn up about it and wanted her friend to do what she would do. That really got me thinking about what I have been writing in this Wonderful Life column. As frustrating as it may be sometimes when we think we have the best answer for a friend that we care about, they will do what they belief or moral system dictates and if it is opposite of yours that’s okay. Because really the alternative is to only then hang out with people that think and do exactly the same thing…boring…yawn fest!! Having a variety of friends you can learn so much about yourself and life. Heck you hear how different I am from Rob or Arnie, yet I love them to death and have learned a lot from them but still do what I believe. Acceptance of one another will help this to be A Wonderful Life!