Friends...

I remember reading once that a friend is someone who loves you as you are.......

My favorite "friend poem"....

True friends are like diamonds

Precious, but rare.

False friends are like autumn leaves

Found, everywhere.

My favorite "friend saying"....

A friend is someone who loves you as you are,

They don't try to change you.

Treasure your real friends!  Life would be meaningless without them.  As Billy Dee said to Diana Ross in Mahogany, "Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with!"

My friends are many! I love them all and give each one their special place in my heart.   Of course, some friends are closer to me than others -- we spend more time together.  I could not possibly put names and pictures of all the people I hold dear to my heart, there are too many.

I will try to give you a brief picture of what I mean:

• When I was a little girl spending time with my grandmother, in North Carolina, there was a little girl named Sally.  I remember her having blonde curly hair.  That's all I remember about her physically, emotionally, she was my first friend.  We were about 2 years old at the time.

• My mother and five sisters- Susan (deceased); Cecelia Susan; Sharon Ann; Rhoda; Robbin Ivelma; Iris Benita.  These are still the best friends I ever will have.  We have been through hell and back and still love and admire each other.

• Then came my school female friends-  Lauren Brown; Zora Mae Briggs; Evelyn McNair;

• My school male friends- Vernard Dorsey (deceased); Raymond Green; Brandon Scales; Larry Simms (deceased);

• My early adult friends- Kathy Milstien; Wanda and Mary Delgado; Ziola Gaye; Susan; Frankie the Bartender; Mike the doorman; Catfish Mayfield;

• My Army friends- Pat Sellers; Felicia Redwine; JJ Balador; Dee Nelson; Chilli; Valerie Babacia;

• My German friends- Jennette, Pierre, and Babette Edwards; Robert Kimberly Carson Sr.; Charles Brown; Charles Brown;

• My after Army friends- Gladys; Kathy Fillman; Sharon Byler; Heidi;

• My Lancaster friends- Jane Diak; Andrew Shaubach; Susan and Sally;

• My New York friends- Paul David Levine; Gloria De La Cruz; Robin Berger; Jackie Warner; Tommy Marin and Mike; Giovanni Mele; Gladys Bruce; Henry Sanabria; Tonya Collette Allen;

• My Finnish friends- Irja and family; Keijo, Hanna, Katja, Tonja, Jaako, Elu Ranta; Lasse Norres; Charles Salter; Trini and Miina; Ipi; Susu;

• My Lahti Finland friends and family- Markus Ollikainen; the Royal Tramps; Tero's Hevi Gee; Hanski Kinnunen; Matti Eve,

• My adopted sisters- Rolla; Leena Suokas; Elina; Ritva Jussila

• My adopted brothers- Kari Tainila; Johannes Wilenius; Mauro Pavano;

• My adopted mothers- Mary Ann Hinnenkamp; Liisa Sälinen

This list contains the first names that came immediately to my head.  I have overlooked some names or forgotten some last or real names.  As they come to me I will include them.  If you happen to be one of the people I overlooked, forgive me and drop me a line (address below).  I would be ever so happy to hear from you.

To the friends I haven't made yet, let's get acquainted, you also drop me a line (address below).

My friends... starting at the beginning... as much as possible... in the order that we met...

New York

Sharon; Candice; Tonya

Tonya interviewing James Ingram...

and.... Tonya, again

Sharon Scott

Sharon Powell

Zita Steimitz, Roberta

Roberta... our "Elizabeth Taylor" 

Greece, Athens, Paros

Stella and me in Pireas, Greece

Stella's husband Letherias

Stella's daughter, Kara

The whole gang...

Vasilla, daughter of Stella's frined... a young lady by now

We visited Vasilla's grandmother in Paros

Sula and her brother the captain... Paros

Finland

Roberta... our "Elizabeth Taylor"

The Hintsanen Family

Hintsanen boys

Ipi and Susu's wedding...

Jenny, baby Tim, father Jari (right)

Marcello Rosa, Cape Verde

Keith Howard, American

Azziza, Tanzania

Little Brother Johannes Willenius, Finish

Big Brother Unto

Yinka, Nigeria

Claudio, Sicilly

Baby Jonathan Siltanen

I am missing a few pictures... either had the pictures or use of a scanner... but never at the same time...