Reminiscing (not the song)

How often do you reminisce about the past? How much is too much? When is it healthy or not healthy?

I've been thinking a lot about past friendships and how certain events and circumstances shape those relationships. Some dwindle quietly, some end in a ball of fire and some are still there. And no matter how they end they in some way have shaped you into who you are today.

The friendships I have been reminiscing about in particular are the ones that were happy for the most part. Ones that disappeared long ago, but wonder what it would be like now if they were still there.

I've managed to stay in touch with a few friends from high school, but not closely and honestly high school was not my favorite time. I had a few good friends and out of those few only one have I kept in real touch with.

My first job created a lot of friendships of which the majority again dwindled away. Some I have rekindled and one I'm really glad is becoming stronger.

Friends come and go and are in your life for a reason and leave for a reason. But without friends life would be so lonely. I cherish every friendship I have and treat them like family. True friends are very hard to come by and I have learned the hard way one too many times that the true ones are few and far between.

Even then I still can't help but wonder how would life be if I still had the good and bad friends in my life. I do have to say I'm glad my life is at the stage it's at and am grateful for all the lessons I have learned, but there are those very few friendships I truly miss. These are the ones that get me reminiscing and wondering the most.

So that begs the question of how exactly healthy is it?

I personally feel it's natural to ponder, but doing so often makes you lose touch with reality.

Opinions?

Book Review: Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince

I literally devoured this book. I read it so fast and loved it so much. I bawled my eyes out at the end and gripped the book so hard in frustration through the rest. I know the truth about Snape as I've seen the movies, but reading about his wish-washy ways still angered me. The explanation of the Horcruxes was very helpful, as I don't recall much explanation of them in the movie, or I just wasn't paying attention and found myself confused over them in the movies. And Hagrid caring for Aragog was sweet and yet disturbing (big spider hater here).

I loved the Pensieve parts where they went and watched Tom Riddle's life, it was like learning about someone you actually knew, where after you look at them in a different way. You wanted to have sympathy for Voldemort, yet you know that it's completely wrong to do so.

And ugh. The death of Dumbledore was hard! I knew it was coming having seen the movie prior, but it didn't mean I was any more prepared for it when it came. The way it was written was both sad and beautiful. And I enjoyed reading about it more than I did watching it.

All in all this was a really good book, and I'm already delving into Deathly Hallows with a review soon to come.

Happy Friday!

Serious Time

I've had a lot on my mind over the past week. And one thing in particular has stood out and stayed with me. The loss of too many due to alcohol in some way. And by too many, I mean more than zero deaths. Unfortunately I've had to say goodbye to two wonderful people in less than a year, and it's made me think about how sad substance abuse really is. People always think it will never happen to them, but that's when it strikes. Neither death was truly intentional, but neither wasn't at the same time. And all I ask is that you be careful. I'm being selfish right now because I don't want to lose anyone else I care about to a bottle of vodka. The occasional drink is fine, I do it, but if you're going home every night and drinking yourself to sleep, then you have a problem. I just ask that you realize it and look at your life and know that you have people who love and care about you that will help you. Those that encourage the drinking are not the ones who care, they're the ones who support your problem.

I know I have no right to preach, lecture or what else, but having lost two amazing people and knowing several more with an addiction, it's just made me think how precious life is. There's nothing so bad that a friend/family/professional can't help with in a more effective way than what you think that bottle can do. I'm not trying to upset anyone in particular, or anyone for that matter. I'm just expressing what I've been feeling, and I needed to get it out.

I've said my piece. I love you all.