I have a friend. In fact, I have several friends but I am thinking of one in particular. We are as different as water and syrup. Not so different, you say? I concede that one is essentially made up of the other with a lot of sugar thrown in and then heated until thick. But I’ve still got a point.
My friend is the water: a clear, life-sustaining, thirst-quenching kind of person. I’m the syrup: a sort of sticky, sweet, slightly dark substance that is an absolute MUST with some things but that to be honest, too much of makes you sick. Pancakes with water poured over them are mush. Pancakes with syrup are to die for but not exactly something you want to eat for every meal. Or you might. But then you’d get tired of them after a while. Either that or your arteries and pancreas would stage a rebellion.
Here’s the thing. Together my friend and I balance each other perfectly. Her clarity balances my slightly sticky darkness. There is almost nothing I enjoy more than getting her opinion on things. We almost always disagree. It’s fun, really, to find things, the most basic of things, about which we can find a way to disagree. The subtleties of difference in our opinions fight their way to the surface to sun themselves in the light of day. It makes our friendship so satisfying. It’s impossible to be around her without being challenged to think.
We’ve changed each other, I think. And no, I don’t think I’ve become a watered-down version of my syrupy self. But I think we’ve both grown to appreciate the properties of the other. We call it disagreeing beautifully.
If you look back through my water/syrup analogy, you’ll find places where it doesn’t hold up. Don’t look too hard. I really should have used two more opposite things. Things which both have negative properties that could be drawn out to make my point in a more umm…pointed way. Truthfully, if you go back and read this again, my analogy doesn’t hold up at all. You’d probably disagree with me.
But I rather enjoy that. 🙂
Kristy Dempsey 
Mmmm
What a truely beautiful (syrupy) post.
Makes me wish I was your watery friend- I hope she reads this. (one day)
I’m toffee syrup- sugar syrup but with a fair amount of vinagar! Sometimes too much.
Water is salvation but
Syrup- the nectar of life
What a great (non) pair you are.
Re: Mmmm
Aw, I’ll be your syrupy friend. 🙂
I know two people like that. They are oil and vinegar. Mixed together they are a scrumptious vinagrette. 🙂
And I’m sure there are a few other spicy herb-like friends that add the flavah, baby! 🙂
I have a friend like that. . .
. . .and I can surely tell you, that no longer am I all syrup. . .but half the Sunday mornings, I am a powdered sugar on pancakes kind of person.
Friends. . .and how they footprint your world. . .it’s nice to look back at the sand, and marvel, as you take it forward.
Liked your post. 🙂
love that phrase
“how they footprint your world”…what a lovely thought.
Re: love that phrase
thanks, kristy
i friended you, is that okay? if not, i will take you off my list
have a good day
meg 🙂
Re: love that phrase
Of course. Thanks Meg!
Aw…such a sweet post, Ms. Syrup!
It’s so uplifting to hear this, because disagreements often have the tendency to destroy relationships. I’ve seen it a few times too many and it always makes me sad. 😦
You both must be extremely mature and respectful people (well, I already knew that about YOU, of course) otherwise it would never work.
friendship
This sounds like it could be the beginning of a wonderful first chapter, Kristy…
Maybe I’ll see in you in Sylva in November at the Great Smoky Mountain Book Festival.