Old Friends and Change

This past weekend I went to the West Coast of Florida primarily to go to a old friend’s father’s memorial. My friend lives in Seattle, so I got to see him and catch up after probably ten years. Just as I got close to the church logged into my GPS, I noticed that I was down the street from Clearwater, where I know my Aunt Mary lives. The idea of visiting her came and went in the same minute, as I pulled into the church parking lot.

After the service, my buddy was rather inundated with family and taking care of his mother, so I suggested we meet up for breakfast the next morning—just us. He thought that was a good idea. As I was about to leave to go to Tampa where I would be staying, I decided to call my aunt to see if she were home. An answering machine answered the phone. I left a short message. Something deeper rose to the surface and said, “Just drive over there. She needs you!”

So, I put her address in my GPS, and off I went. Her home was only ten minutes away from the church. I drove up to a large condominium society for the elderly and began the tedious search for the address in an ocean of apartments. Soon, I drove up to her building. She sat on her front stoop, rocking in a lounge chair, staring out into the ether as if nothing were going on around her. Even as I walked up to her, this 97-year-old woman didn’t realize I was there to see her, despite speaking to her as I walked up. After I spoke her name louder a few more times, she stood up and hugged me. Politely, she said, after our embrace, “Now, excuse me, but who is your mother and father?”

After about five minutes, she began to digest that I was the long lost nephew she hadn’t seen in so many years—actually, since my father had passed away. She told me that she had had a brain operation, and her memory hadn’t come back yet. So, basically, my aunt was living in the present. Every time I told her something about the past, she looked at me in amazement and exclaimed, “Oh, I wish someone was here to hear this. This is the best day ever! I feel like I’m dreaming.”

I would affirm that I was no ghost. In fact, I was just as delighted to see her, as she was to see me. We had a beer together. I gave her one of my books and my cards with my new telephone number for evidence that I had been there. She made me sign the book. You would have thought I gave her a million dollars. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon, simply being led by Spirit and living in the moment.

Just as I wrapped up our conversation, I got a text message from my friends in Tampa, and off I sped to my next destination for dinner. When I got to my other old friend’s house, she treated me like I was a member of her family. No time had passed since I saw her last, even though, we decided I hadn’t seen her for, at least, six year. I spent a lovely evening together, eating some great food, and watched an old movie. But mostly, we talked.

I write all this to say that as I have had a great chance the see the difference between new friends and old friends, as I just moved to a new place—absolutely nothing replaces someone who has been in your life for a long time—tried and true, loving and secure, trusting and as valuable as gold. When you find a friend who has these attributes, hold him or her close, as her or she is the greatest gift God can give you on earth.

A Cookbook, a Novel, a Self-Help Book, a Yoga DVD! All great gifts from your friend—Bo Sebastian. Simply go to this link at www.Amazon.com or type in my name. Find great gifts for your family members and friends and support another friend in the process! Thank you and happy Holidays! --Bo

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Bo works with people on SKYPE and FaceTime all over the world. He is taking new clients now. Call 954-253-6493 for information.

Take the time to look at Bo’s bookshelf of self-help books, novels, healing downloads, and yoga DVD. All of Bo’s books help people such as you, make SIGNIFICANT CHANGE with habits, find your SOULMATE, your PASSION, reach YOUR DREAMS, and dictate your own FUTURE.

Chosen to show his new hypnotherapeutic techniques on The Learning Channel (TLC) and also given the opportunity to teach at the world conference for Learning, and received the award of excellence for Helping Overcome Obesity in Nashville, Bo Sebastian is the writer and director of Finding Authentic You and Uncommon Gay Spiritual Warrior. Go directly to Amazon/Amazon Kindle to buy any of his wonderfully inspired books: ]