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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law Bracing for Common Core Lithia Park featured on Oregon Blue Book cover Police Reports Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram Laramie Longhorn 1500 Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Four-year letterman Fredrickson leads sizzling Grizzlies Trip of a lifetime Paul nets 41 as Clippers rally past Trail Blazers High school Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Four-year letterman Fredrickson leads sizzling Grizzlies Grizzlies ace first MWL test Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Southern Oregon University Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Voices Latest Stories Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Jeffrey Gillespie: Dancing the Pyongyang Polka Editor's Notes: Not falling, flying Matthew T. Mangino: Prison deaths on the rise Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Editorial Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Our View: More of the same at SOU? Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Our View: One for the books Our View: Build it; they will play Letters Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Jeffrey Gillespie: Dancing the Pyongyang Polka Editor's Notes: Not falling, flying Matthew T. Mangino: Prison deaths on the rise Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Community blog: Poets, put on your party shoes Spring exhibitions open at Schneider Museum of Art Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Top 5 things to do this week Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' Music A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Movie review: The action is even more insane in ‘Furious 7’ Movie review: ‘While We’re Young’ is a thought-provoking comedy-drama Alan Alda knows the secrets to acting, marriage Movie Listings: April 3-9 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Health Watch: Work out like a pro athlete App Finder: Best baseball apps Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram Laramie Longhorn 1500 Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law ... Ticket Availability ... Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland ... Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law ... Ticket Availability ... Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland ... COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR With a little help from my friends Can we just talk? Comment By Susanne Severeid DailyTidings.com By Susanne Severeid Posted Dec. 1, 2014 at 5:25 PM By Susanne Severeid Posted Dec. 1, 2014 at 5:25 PM » RELATED CONTENT • On the importance of kissing • Ringing in the new year • The haiku of a chance meeting • A full life emptied by grief, refilled by living • Counselor discusses Internet addiction • Dalai Lama's words to schoolchildren were memorable • Words to say for sorrow » Social News I had just moved to Ashland. It was a traumatic move that involved selling our home in another state at a financial loss after the housing crash of 2009 and putting our son into a new high school, in a new town, where we knew virtually no one. One morning, shortly after the U-Haul had been returned and the moving boxes unpacked, I was sitting in a local coffee shop reading the Tidings. Alone. A loud burst of laughter to my right caught my attention. I looked over. It had come from a large, round table with about seven women, aged 30 to 65-plus, sitting together, joking, laughing and chatting happily. Animatedly reaching over and touching a forearm here, giving a quick, warm embrace of hello there, as another joined the table with a breathless, ”Sorry I’m late, had to drop off the kids,” while tossing her jacket over the back of the chair they’d pulled out for her. All good friends. BFF’s, for sure. I looked down at the swirl of whipped cream in my mocha and felt a pang of jealousy. I wanted that. I yearned for that. I wanted a group of girlfriends to sit with once a week, once a month. To share the travails of life with. To help me navigate this turbulent ocean that seemed to have too many high waves recently. My Mom has one. A circle of friends. She lives in a retirement community and she tells me there’s this group of “girls,” as they call themselves —  even though most are now in their 80s. Mom tells me they meet every month and rotate living rooms for a couple of hours, and it’s set in stone. They’ve done it for some 30 years now and never miss a month. They talk about everything from when to collect Social Security benefits to whether or not to give their grandchildren expensive electronics for Christmas. They talk about their health problems, their husbands, and their fears for the future. And somehow, just in talking about these things with each other, it helps. I get that. It does. I watched this little group across the room from me for some time as I stirred my mocha, all of them so different, and yet so connected and supportive of one another, and I thought: I’m going to have that one day. I’m going to have a circle of girlfriends of all ages with their different dangling earrings and cool neck scarves, and their grey buns piled high on their head or long, dark braids going down their back, talking about their 3-year-olds or about their grandkids. I’m going to have that. I’ve lived in Ashland now for three years, and I do have such a circle of friends here that I awaken every morning grateful for. Yes, I have girlfriends, and we sit at tables at coffee shops or while having lunch or in our living rooms and we laugh and cry and tease each other. And yes, it is rich with the kind of cheer and support that so caught my attention while sipping my coffee alone that morning. I find that Ashland is like that, percolating with possibilities. With energy, friendship, hope. I moved here knowing virtually no one, and now? Now, my friends are the stuff dreams are made of. Author, speaker and performer Susanne Severeid lives in Ashland. For more, go to www.susannesevereid.com. By Susanne Severeid DailyTidings.com By Susanne Severeid Posted Dec. 1, 2014 at 5:25 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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