I have been blessed with people in my life who truly know me and understand when I need something. I have people in my life that I can call up and say, "Hey, I'm taking my kid to the ER, can you grab my other kid and take thim to VBS?" and, without any hesitation, they drop what they are doing and drive across town to grab my kid. I have people in my life who I tell, that I'm fine and don't need to talk, but they show up on my doorstep with cheesecake because they know it's a lie. I have people in my life who, even when I'm not around, will stand up for me. I have friends who will come over, grab the live trap with a chipmunk in it, drive the chipmunk to the park and release it and bring back my trap. I have people in my life who have literally never met me face to face, yet they take time out of their days to make sure I know someone is thinking about me (and my kids!). A lot of people reading this are thinking, those are just good friends. Very true. I have some AMAZING friends. But it's more than that. These people see through the independence and realize that I am not invincible. I am so lucky because I have many people in my life who care, but I also have poeple in my life who see me.
It is very difficult for me to make friends. I seem very stand-offish because I'm such an independent person. Even worse, Husband is very independent, too. Worse yet, three of the 4 of us here are also introverts, so doubly whammy. A lot of the time, people think we're not interested in being around them or doing something because of this. Our true friends have chiseled away at us enough and keep inviting us to stuff and wanting to be with us, whereas a lot of people have given up.
Far too often in the past 24 years (geez, almost 25!), people don't understand the independence. We have watched many people come and go out of our lives. We have struggled with no one there to support us. Of course we have each other, but sometimes, you need more help. It is hard for us to ask for help. It's even harder to know people, who should be there for you, are watching you struggle and doing nothing to help. More so, don't care.
Thank you people who are always there for me. I appreciate you more than you would ever know.