"Friendship"

Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more people. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, and affection and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behaviour, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviours. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them.

The book I selected to work on is titled "Testament of Friendship" which is a biography of the life of woman named Winifred Holtby written by Vera Brittain and published in London in 1941. I picked this book up recently at our local recycling centre just because I love old books, I think they're beautiful. The title especially called to me as for many years I have had few but very close long-lived friendships...and even recently, a few acquaintances have become quite special in my life, so I want to honour friendship. I have lived a fairly solitary life, snuggled in my home, reading, painting, spending time with my family. But as my children grow, and as I connect with more 'kindred spirits', even in this digital world, I am grateful for the encouragement and support of friends.

"True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends,

but in their worth and choice."

- Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) British Lexiographer