I woke up this morning. This is something I've been doing for over eight decades
and something I hope that I will be doing for some years to come providing that
my mental faculties remain reasonably able to steer me through the day without
too much trouble.
Someone asked me recently if I had any male friends. I thought
it was a very strange question and said so and asked why such an assumption
should be made. Apparently it was very simple. I have coffee in The Woodlands several times a week at least. All the people with whom I have coffee are friends I have known for many many years (at least two I have known for over half a century). However all my 'coffee mates' are female. Why? Because their husbands are no longer with us. I do have one male friend and former colleague I've known for 51 years with whom I have lunch in The Woodlands every Friday. His wife died a couple of years ago after many years of illness.
On a Saturday morning I used to meet my son, Gaz, for coffee in An Lanntair (the local arts centre) whilst my grandson went to his drama class. About half way through a friend (whom I've met for coffee on a Saturday morning for many years) would come and join us and then Gaz would take Brodie swimming. Some say that routine is boring. I find it quite comforting.
However that routine came to a sudden end a few weeks ago when Gaz very suddenly decided to go back to sea. He received a phone call on a Thursday offering him a Chief Engineer's job on a superyacht. A job he has done for many years before he 'retired' several years ago. So one Saturday we were coffeeing and a few days later he was afloat at the other end of the Mediterranean. Now he is 'languishing' in Monaco. It can be a hard life!
Pleasant routines are good. Friends are friends, whatever their gender.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Janice. Something that many youngsters perhaps do not always appreciate.
DeleteWell, I am very pleased indeed that you woke up this morning.
ReplyDeleteI am also not surprised that you have many friends, of whatever gender, and that you enjoy such a rewarding social life.
But, poor Gaz... such a hard life!!
Yes, JayCee, such a hard life indeed - although I can't for the life of me see the downsides if you love travel and being paid handsomely into the bargain. And whilst he is away for two months he then gets home for two months.
DeleteFemale friends have always been a comfort to gay men. Older women can be terribly sensible and practical, but also great fun. My blog is full of them, and I love them all.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, despite not being gay, I have always had many female friends where no sexual attraction was necessarily involved.
DeleteGaz may have gone to sea but you still have lots of coffee dates in your future 🙂
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it all, Graham
Thank you, Kylie, I'd be lost without all my friends and meeting for coffee is a very good way of keeping up.
DeleteI'm glad you have a variety of friends to meet up with, Graham. I must admit that all of the friends I meet up with are female. I don't have any male friends that I meet up with, although, I do have several male blog friends that I like to follow!
ReplyDeleteEllen, strangely I've always had both male and female friends (where no sexual attraction was necessarily involved) even when I was married.
DeleteThe best way..any gender, any age....just friends
DeleteFriends of 60 years are still in tough, but I don't see them because of health. But I'm still waking up each morning, which surprises me daily. It gets harder.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to read you woke up this morning. The question about male friends is weird.
ReplyDeleteOn the weirder side, many years ago a woman I knew told me that older women turn gay because there’s no men for them. She was serious about it, talking as if it was like getting a skin tag. So I broke the news to her that is not true.