FRIENDSHIP

By: Maria Victoria A. Grageda-Smith

 

Friendship is the joy of life,
Sweet ingredient to mortal strife,
Like a warm, soothing cup of tea,
Comforting balm for the weary.
Friendship is no “tit-for-tat,”
Just sheer delight even in mindless chat!
Genuine pleasure in another’s company,
True appreciation of the other’s personality.
A cliché, indeed, yet true to mind:
That real friends are hard to find;
And when we do, let’s aspire each day—
To cherish them in every way.
I know not where the years will bring,
Our friendships now of which I sing;
Yet this, I know—it comforts me:
My friends are fragments of my eternity.

Poet’s Notes: This poem does not appear in my book, “Warrior Heart, Pilgrim Soul.” It’s just a sweet little piece I wrote a long time ago that I thought didn’t merit inclusion in a serious collection of poetry that I’m nevertheless now inspired to share here due to the many touching reunions with dear friends I have been blessed to enjoy this summer. As you all know, there are many kinds of “friends.” I know I have all kinds: “fair weather” friends who are in your life while you’re prosperous or at least okay, but are nowhere to be found when times get rough and tough; those who are merely there “tit-for-tat,” meaning they are mainly only after what you can possibly give them—that overdrawn account kind or friendship where the giving is lopsided (and guess who gives more?); “hovering” friends who show up in your life just frequently enough to maintain their subscription into your “circle of friends,” a kind of voyeurism where they’re mainly curious to keep tabs on what you’re up to or what you have (and conversely, what you don’t have—to make themselves feel better about themselves); “populist” friends who like to be known as your friends mainly as a status symbol or as a gauge on their own popularity; and then there are the friends that neither time nor distance nor life circumstances change, who have the ability to seamlessly pick up where you’d all left off many years ago, as though it were only yesterday you’d enjoyed each other’s company, who are there for the long haul and after your best interests at heart, yet always respectful of your prerogative to make your own choices—supporting, nurturing, being one with you in everything, and have the all-important courage of loyalty—to stand up, speak out and defend you while other so-called “friends” passively allow others to bully you or insidiously try to destroy you with gossip and ill-will out of jealousy, envy or some petty or unjust, baseless grudge. I know I have all these kinds of friends, although due to my good nature, I rarely call out the bad ones until their actions are plainly unacceptable and I am forced to finally cut them out of my life as a measure of necessary self-protection. It is the last kind—the friends for life, the loyal ones, the brave ones that I celebrate in this poem. This summer was full of them! Thank you, my BFFs. (Copyright 2014 by Victoria G. Smith)

Jesse White Urges Talking Book and Braille Patrons to Participate in New U.S. Currency Reader Program Program Provides Free Currency Readers for Blind and Visually Impaired

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced the launching of a pilot program to enable Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS) patrons the option to preorder a free currency reader. The program, set to begin September 2, is sponsored by the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. “Federal Reserve notes are the same size and weight regardless of denomination, making it difficult for blind and visually impaired individuals to tell them apart,” said White. “The innovative program helps visually impaired people to navigate a common aspect of day-to-day life.” The four-month pilot program allows the government to test its ordering and distribution processes and gauge demand for currency readers by initially offering the reader only to TBBS patrons. State Library staff will order the currency reader, which will be delivered to the patron’s home. To receive a free currency reader, current patrons of TBBS should call 1-888- NLS-READ or 1-888-657- 7323. In January 2015, following the pilot rollout to TBBS patrons, the program will be available to all residents who are blind or visually impaired. Individuals interested in applying for a currency reader device or learning more about the program can visit www.bep.gov/uscurrencyreaderpgm.
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