Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

Yesterday I had five hours walking and talking and lunching with a friend.  We are "swim buddies" in our Buddhist practice, and when we relate our adventures in life, we come from the same intentions.  We've known each other now over eighteen years, and have supported each other through rough times and doubts and illnesses.  A mutual friend died recently, and she related the details to me.  We don't pretend anything together.  We can go from sad and anxious to joyous and hopeful.  We are secure in our devotion to this precious life, whatever it brings.  And we see life lessons in our experiences, no matter how seemingly insignifigant.  I feel recharged after being with her.  We had deep discussions and ecstasies over bars of soap.   I would say we are both enthusiasts, though she's inclined to introversion and I to extroversion.  Perhaps we balance each other.  She's a few years ahead of me in age, and I feel she provides me with previews of coming attractions or distractions.  We are bonded over having our only siblings, brothers, die close in time.  I treasure this friendship, as so many others, because of it's uniqueness and transparency.  She's an anchor to my bobbing boat.