Friendships can be casual or intense. They can last for a minute, a day, a week or a lifetime. None are the same.

Some leave your life forever. Some stay until they need to go on. Some stay tucked into your heart. Some just stay.

They are all treasured.

The gifts of those friendships reach our souls and help us remember who we are and where we have been. They hold us to our truths.

Over forty years ago (we aren’t saying how many over 40), I met a man, dressed in a towel, at our neighborhood bonfire at Camp Nelson. My father was shocked, the neighbors did not know quite how to relate to this man. I loved him instantly. I knew he would be a friend for a long time.

He purchased a cabin just a short distance from ours. Every summer (almost) we both came to Camp Nelson at the same time. We sat around the campfire, we hiked, we ate (oh, boy, can we eat!) we chatted and we endured the annual “water meeting”.

Somehow, we never made it to each other’s homes until this year. When social media came along we were able to follow each other’s life and, vicariously live the adventures of the other.

Several years ago, in one of our chats, I told him about my “obsession” about penguins. I have been collecting almost anything penguin for a long time. It was one of the reasons that I went to Antarctica!

Today, out of the blue, I received a package. I couldn’t think of a thing that I had ordered from anywhere. Opening the box revealed a gorgeous small pillow. I was dumbfounded. Who could have sent this? In the bottom of the box was a note addressed to me. It was from my friend.

About 2 years ago, he had told me that he did needlepoint. I had confessed as to my weaving. We both laughed that our hobbies did not match our “outside” appearances.

Today, he sent me this.

He is talented, warm-hearted, kind etc.

And he is my friend.