David Lammermann and I celebrated 17 years of friendship in July. David and I made a new connection shortly after David moved out on his own but we realized that our connection goes much farther back. “We’ve been friends a long, long time. I’ve know you since you were 10 years old in Paradise,” David said. David lived in a care home run by the parents of one of my childhood friends.
Once we reconnected and started spending time together after David’s move down to Chico we went to the bowling alley and ate David’s favorite Mexican fast food, Taco Bell. We also watched movies together. During our interview, I reminded David that I helped him get his Blu-ray player. “I like it,” David said. Friendship is all about give and take and David has given me things that I use daily too, like my CD clock radio.
Birthdays are a big deal between us and at the time of our interview, it was a week after David’s birthday, so I surprised him with his favorite dinner, spaghetti and meatballs. Other favorite meals that we have shared over the years include pizza, grilled cheese, and anything Mexican.
In any true friendship, you are also both helping each other out when you need it. “You help me out with our (theater) scripts and with all kinds of stuff,” David said. David also got me involved in a group run by and for people with special needs called People First. David and I recently got back from the 2018 region 2 conference up in Anderson. We were room mates again and enjoyed going to different classes together and enjoying some amazing meals (including one of David’s faves, bacon cheese burgers). I got David interested in my Drama and Choir program. He started out only going 2 days a week, but now he is up to 4! “I got you involved in a bunch of stuff and you got me involved in a bunch of stuff,” David said.
In any friendship, it is important to have values and interests that you share in common. With David and myself, we have a common faith as well as a love of performing and advocacy. We are also both artists. We both sold paintings at a recent showing in the Matador. At the conference we had another opportunity to share our art with visitors at the information/sales fair. I paint more animal portraits and land scapes but David likes local landmarks like Bidwell Mansion and the Hooker Oak tree. We both like painting different types of animals like wolves and camels! We are also huge sports nuts! We both love and are passionate when it comes to the 49ers!
So whats my advice on how to keep a friendship going for the long haul? It definitely takes a lot of work, like any people who spend time together, we have had our disagreements. Open communication is a great place to start, as it helps to clear the air when there has been a disagreement or if you have a worry and your just not yourself. Over all it is about finding someone with whom, you share a special connection and finally, when you do find those people in your life who are life-long friends treasure them! They are the ones you share your deepest worries, when you really need a listening ear. Life long friends are truly a treasure without price.