Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I received an email today from my older two kids' stepmom.  We are really close friends, though she lives in Europe.  She expressed her sadness at the death of our dog, and generally touched base with me.  I love hearing from her because she is supportive, but funny and honest.  We have outlived our mutual husband by over thirty years.  He didn't see his kids grown, graduated, married or with kids.  But she stands in for him, and her son, their half brother, is like a son to us.  You know the cliche, "feel the love"?  Well, with them, I do.  She has been to all the kids' weddings, and will be out again for the last one, in the fall.  She's literally "there for us".  We could have been enemies, or resented each other, or competed with each other, or caused trouble for our kids, but we chose to take the high road, and wound up being like sisters.  Life is amazing!