I still listen to the radio and, yes, I know that saying this may give away my age. Thank you Gugliemo Marconi for inventing the radio in 1895. Every Sunday at noon, local classical station KMFA features an hour of classical guitar, which I enjoy listening to while preparing a special Sunday lunch – often more elaborate in preparation or presentation, though not necessarily pricier. It’s Sunday, almost noon, and I’m thinking about how much friendship means to me. We have all sorts of friends, right? The super close ones, the ones we see all the time, the ones we only catch up with now and then, and the ones we practically never see. But with those last ones, it’s amazing how you can just pick up right where you left off, like it was yesterday. Friendship, demanding effort and commitment, is integral to our social human nature, as we rely on each other for well-being. We naturally come together for life events: celebrations like birthdays and weddings, new beginnings and births, and to support friends in honoring lives lost. As the saying goes, friends are the family we choose. We make them throughout life – from school and university to work and the neighborhood. While it’s hard to maintain all these connections, some friends remain constants, always there in our lives, no matter the distance or time. Traveling the world with friends has brought me incredible joy, taking me to unimaginable places like the USA, France, Russia, China, India, Australia among others. We’ve shared unique experiences, from tasting diverse cuisines to immersing ourselves in different cultures and understanding their origins. What I’ve cherished most is visiting friends in their home countries, seeing their families and the landscapes of their childhood, the places that shaped their lives. As I reflect on what friendship means to me, I’m deeply grateful for the friends I have today. Their willingness to spend time with me assures me I’m not alone. Above all, they give me a sense of being, belonging, worth, and love. And despite our individual struggles, their unwavering support fosters my growth and acceptance of myself, will all my imperfections. With them, I’ve transformed over the years, as a butterfly molts, emerging stronger and more beautiful. So, here goes a toast to past, present, and future friends. And to all of you reading this, thank you for being a friend (as the Golden Girls Sitcom theme song says). Well, it is noon now, it’s time for classical guitar on the radio and the start of our special but simple Sunday lunch. Cheers. Maria Noack Re-written April 10, 2025