I'm not really feeling philosophical today but I have some thoughts about this weekend I want to share.
I have spent many weekends with friends in my life. Great, wonderful, and loving friends. This weekend was like that only....more somehow. Through my husbands love for Jeeps we have joined a jeep club and have gotten to know them all over the last several months. We've had bbq's, party's, weekends at the lake, and just relaxing hang out time. We have met some really great people but until this weekend I don't think I realized how great.
We have always found great friends in our lives to spend time with and connect with but in the past when it has come to us needing help of some kind or having a birthday party for one of us there has only been a select 1 or 2 that we could really count on. My birthdays have always pretty much sucked party wise cause its so close to New Years. My biggest party that my husband threw for me when I turned 21....2 people showed up. 2. It's also been the same when we need help with anything big. 1 or 2 showed. Regardless of how many times we've shown up to help the others.
This weekend on the other hand was amazing. We had a great turnout of people that came together to help us get our lift on our Jeep. Even those who couldn't make it were available to answer questions and root us on. Those who could stayed all day long not leaving till midnight to help make sure the job got done. These guys really came through for us as they seem to do whenever anyone in the club needs help with anything. And when Alex was still working his tail off Sunday to finish everything by himself, one of the guys that had been here all day the day before showed up and helped Alex finish it all.
To some with large families or large groups of friends this may be normal but for us it was a real blessing. We have never had such a large group of people come together for us before like this and I am so greatful to not only have them but to have been a part of such an awesome project.
I in no way discount our other friends here or in Ohio and around the country because we love you all and have depended on you plenty. This weekend was just amazing to me though. As each Jeeper pulled up to my house my heart filled more and more with thanks and joy knowing that these people were here to help us. Us. The time that I have spent with them all the last few months has brought so much joy to my life.
I have felt loneliness often in my life even in a room filled with friends and family but not with them. When I spend time with them I feel like my chronic pain doesn't matter, my constant fight with depression doesn't matter, my quirkiness doesn't matter, my past mistakes don't matter, none of it matters. I am not judged or ridiculed, left out or looked down on. I am just a part of the crew and I'm welcomed there. I'm even wanted there. To some this may be silly cause they don't have my same issues but to me this is an awesome feeling and I will not take it for granted.
It is not the quantity of friends you have but the quality is a phrase I usually live by but this weekend and since our first meeting with the Legion at Jeep Beach in Daytona it seems we have had both. Our Jeep family has shown me that it is possible to have friends you can not only connect with and have fun with but you can also count on to be there whenever you need them and not just when its convenient for them. Sometimes truth can be shown to you in just the simple lifting of a Jeep. Truth is everywhere people, so keep your eyes open. You just might learn something that you can treasure for the rest of your life.
I have spent many weekends with friends in my life. Great, wonderful, and loving friends. This weekend was like that only....more somehow. Through my husbands love for Jeeps we have joined a jeep club and have gotten to know them all over the last several months. We've had bbq's, party's, weekends at the lake, and just relaxing hang out time. We have met some really great people but until this weekend I don't think I realized how great.
We have always found great friends in our lives to spend time with and connect with but in the past when it has come to us needing help of some kind or having a birthday party for one of us there has only been a select 1 or 2 that we could really count on. My birthdays have always pretty much sucked party wise cause its so close to New Years. My biggest party that my husband threw for me when I turned 21....2 people showed up. 2. It's also been the same when we need help with anything big. 1 or 2 showed. Regardless of how many times we've shown up to help the others.
This weekend on the other hand was amazing. We had a great turnout of people that came together to help us get our lift on our Jeep. Even those who couldn't make it were available to answer questions and root us on. Those who could stayed all day long not leaving till midnight to help make sure the job got done. These guys really came through for us as they seem to do whenever anyone in the club needs help with anything. And when Alex was still working his tail off Sunday to finish everything by himself, one of the guys that had been here all day the day before showed up and helped Alex finish it all.
To some with large families or large groups of friends this may be normal but for us it was a real blessing. We have never had such a large group of people come together for us before like this and I am so greatful to not only have them but to have been a part of such an awesome project.
I in no way discount our other friends here or in Ohio and around the country because we love you all and have depended on you plenty. This weekend was just amazing to me though. As each Jeeper pulled up to my house my heart filled more and more with thanks and joy knowing that these people were here to help us. Us. The time that I have spent with them all the last few months has brought so much joy to my life.
I have felt loneliness often in my life even in a room filled with friends and family but not with them. When I spend time with them I feel like my chronic pain doesn't matter, my constant fight with depression doesn't matter, my quirkiness doesn't matter, my past mistakes don't matter, none of it matters. I am not judged or ridiculed, left out or looked down on. I am just a part of the crew and I'm welcomed there. I'm even wanted there. To some this may be silly cause they don't have my same issues but to me this is an awesome feeling and I will not take it for granted.
It is not the quantity of friends you have but the quality is a phrase I usually live by but this weekend and since our first meeting with the Legion at Jeep Beach in Daytona it seems we have had both. Our Jeep family has shown me that it is possible to have friends you can not only connect with and have fun with but you can also count on to be there whenever you need them and not just when its convenient for them. Sometimes truth can be shown to you in just the simple lifting of a Jeep. Truth is everywhere people, so keep your eyes open. You just might learn something that you can treasure for the rest of your life.
2 comments:
Missy,
this was a great read. I'm sorry to hear about the things in the past. We will always be here for you and Alex. My 30th bday felt like your 21st. Too many people doing things with Christmas and New Years and all of that. You and Alex are both wanted and needed here. LOJ is not a club as much as it is a family. You are part of the family now. We need to make the next birthday a big celebration or celebrations. Either way. I'm down for whatever. Scategories, scrabble, anything. Just something to get together and enjoy everyone's company. When you guys are ready to move, we will be there to help with that too if you need. Especially if it has a pool. =) I enjoyed reading this. It is great to see someone else gets the same feeling that I do. It is hard to find people to count on and this family is full of them.
Missy, that was a great read. You and Alex are great people. I am very proud to have yall as friends, as I am with everyone in the club. I'm glad I was able to come over and offer what little help I could. I'm down with a giant party for your birthday!
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