Book Review: Friendkeeping

This was one of my more recent library finds.  It took me a while to really sit down and read through it because I had overwhelmed myself with other books that I needed to read right now as well.  But I finally made myself settle in for one book at a time, and this one was first on my list to finish. 

The author, Julie Klam, speaks openly about many different friendships in her life.  From childhood besties to fellow mommies from her daughter's school, Klam tells her story in a lighthearted and humorous manner.  This isn't one of those "How to make friends and keep them forever" kind of manual books.  The only thing that she says as a definite is "Everyone needs friends" and "You have to be a friend to have a friend". 

Not all friends are forever, and having friends isn't easy.  But we need them in our lives anyway.  I enjoyed Klam's writing style and her own personal perspective.  Once I actually devoted a smidgen of time to just this book, it turned out to be a quick read.

I liked her take on the whole explosion of social media.  I remember myself being a sophomore in college and having the girls next door to me in the dorm tell me that I just had to sign up for facebook!  Our college had finally gotten added to the list of schools that could participate and I needed to put up my info immediately!

Yes, there was a time when facebook was not open to anyone and everyone.  Hard to remember, isn't it?  Back then, great-aunt Nettie couldn't have a profile unless she was enrolled in college!

Most of us have adjusted accordingly to fit social media into our lives without allowing it to over run us.  It's a necessary evil.  Although I have said to myself and to others on multiple occasions how glad I am that facebook and everything else wasn't around when I was a teenager.  Kids are putting some really stupid things out there in the world of the interwebs today.  But I digress.

Another topic that Klan rings a bell with is trying to have/make/stay friends with people who are at a different point in their lives than you.  Being married with a small child, I personally do not venture out very often outside of the realm of family.  And if I do, it needs to be done by 10PM so I can go to bed!  So many people from my past are not parallel to this, and so we don't see each other often. 

Plus, being an adult just plain gets in the way.  My friend Shelby and I have been in our frelationship since 5th grade.   We used to ride the bus to and from middle school together and then talk on the phone once we were home.  When it was nice out we rode our bikes all over the place.  The first time I ever stayed up until midnight on New Year's Eve, it was at her house.  Now we don't see each other hardly at all.  It's not because we aren't friends - it's because we're grown up.  And that kind of sucks, at least in the name of friendship.  She has a job, a boyfriend, and a (nice) apartment across the river.  It just doesn't mesh well with my schedule.  But we consider it a success when we can see each other a few times a year, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Take a look at this book if you get a chance, and see what resonates with you.