Once In A While..If You're Lucky

Once in a while...if you're lucky..you make friends who help you be the person you want to be. They inspire, encourage and give you confidence. When you need advice or someone to listen, they're there. You know you can always count on them when you're down or in a bind. I am very lucky because I have quite a few people like that in my life. But I feel especially blessed for my friend CJ. Since I began blogging he has been my strength and the reason many people found my blog in the first place. He has a site: http://www.soldiersperspective.us/ and he refers people over to read my stories. In addition to that he supported me with the Microsoft Award happenings. IE my sounding board for my speech and asking his readers to go vote. One thing I most admire him for is his site www.theyhavenames.com/ which he started to make sure that fallen soldiers weren't just blips on the news..just faceless numbers in the paper. To make sure that everyone knows that each fallen has a family, has a face, a story..but most of all a name. He has a huge heart and I know writing these stories has to take a toll on him after a while. But he continues writing to make sure the fallen aren't forgotten.
He was in Savannah last week and I got to see him. It wasn't for long, but I was grateful for the little time we did have. I don't know when I'll see him again..and I can live with that . Because even though I don't see him in person..I know he's there when I need him . And that is a bond that no distance will break. I will accept only seeing him once in while..because I AM lucky. I hope my words are able to convey the heartfelt gratitude and admiration I have for him. The world would be a much better place if there were more people like him. Those of us who call him a friend truly have a treasure. Thank you CJ..thanks for just being you.

No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those
who are throughout persuaded of each other's worth....Robert Southey.