Ten or fifteen years ago, Biker and I got called out of the audience at the Dixie Stampede in Branson. Our goal? Represent the “south” in a “horse race.” Like the real South, we lost.

Saturday we drove from D.C. to Gettysburg to see the real thing. No horse races, but a lot of walking and climbing. The weather was amazing, and the colors of the trees were gorgeous as we were at the tail end of the fall.

I’m not a huge history buff, but Biker is. He’s watched the (IMO, boring) movie Gettysburg dozens of times.
But the real thing is very impressive. The scale of the battlefield, the stories of bravery and loss, and the impact on the locals — all of these stories are woven together to create a memorable visit.
We were shocked at how large and how well preserved the battlefields are. And at how many monuments are placed around the battlefields. The more than 1,300 monuments to battalion
s, infantries and people represent one of the world’s largest collections of outdoor sculptures. Who knew

A few favorites:

• Favorite participant: Sallie Jarrett. This Pit Bull Terrier was the mascot of the 11th Penns
  ylvania Infantry. She stuck close to the troops until she was killed in action just shy of her 4th birthday and just two months before the war was over. She now has a place of honor as a statue at the base of the infantry’s monument. When we were there, people had placed milk bones on her statue. Awwww.
• Favorite location: Little Round Top. This important Union position held a prominent place in Col. Chamberlain’s fabled performance and it’s simply a beautiful spot to look out over the battlefields. Very inspiring.
• Favorite fact:  Carrying a regiment’s colors into battle was considered an honor and a privilege. It was also a very dangerous job and would likely get a man maimed or killed. Thus, it required a great deal of courage. The flag bearer was extremely visible and capturing an opponent’s flag was considered a great feat, therefore being the guy carrying the flag was quite dangerous.

On our way back in town, we stopped to pay tribute to Abe. His leadership and resolve during this war brought us to where we are today … a nation led by a free black man. And, as a writer, much respect to Mr. Lincoln for what is widely considered to be one of the greatest examples of mastery of the English language … his Gettysburg Address at the Soldier’s Cemetery. Just 2 1/2 minutes long, the speech was written by Lincoln himself. The word choice is exquisite. Just in case you’ve forgotten … here it is for your enjoyment:

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

“Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.”

I was reminded of this old Campfire girls song this weekend when spending precious time with one of my very best friends. We were reminiscing and she mentioned we’ve been friends for 20 years. In that time period, she’s lived and traveled all over the world and I’ve stayed busy with raising two kids. And even though our lives are very different, we are bound by our common heritage, our energy backgrounds and work, and our appreciation for spending quality time with each other. Linsi is family.

This led to an interesting conversation between me and Biker about friends. We each still stay in loose touch with a few friends from high school and college, but much more time is spent with friends we’ve accumulated over the past 10 years. These are people we have lots in common with – work, hobbies like motorcycling, and interests like reading. While Biker spends every Sunday with his motorcycle friends, I have a small group of girlfriends that I see mostly individually, having a drink about once a month plus book club once every 6 weeks. This is enough for both of us.

In the end, my circle of close relationships is small and that’s the way I like it.

Although there are many types of friendships, there are common characteristics that bond people together — common backgtounds or interests, similar geographies or occupations, enjoyment of each other’s company, honesty, trust, and the ability to be yourself, express your feelings and make mistakes without fear of judgment.

There is a place for new and old friendships in life. The richness of these bonds make us who we are, provide us solace and laughter, and alter our view of the world.

Seeing my gold friend, Linsi, as always, was such a treat. And I know that next time we see each other, – whether it’ sin a month or six months – we’ll  pick up as if we were together yesterday.