Friends

What is a friend? The dictionary defines it as ‘A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations’. Yet, that seems such a narrow definition. There are all kinds of friends, just as there are all kinds of family members or people, for that matter.

In my not too long, nor too short life, I have come across various categories of  ‘friends’. There are the good time friends. The ones who are always up for a laugh, or a party, but disappear at the first sign of trouble. Then, there are the lip service friends, who promise to be there for you, no matter what, but when the ‘what’ happens, the pertinent question becomes, “where are they?”. Then there are the acquaintance friends. The ones you meet occasionally, accidentally, and have a nice chat with, but put each other out of your minds as soon as you move on. There are the school friends, the ones you share a happy history with, and relive the innocence of those times whenever you meet, rare as that maybe.

However, the special ones, the ones you hold dear to your heart, are the 3 am friends. The ones who will show up at the first sign of trouble, unbidden. The ones who will take the shirts of their own backs to make sure that you are covered. The ones who will enjoy a laugh and a party but equally be ready to wipe your tears and hold your hand. These friends, few and far between as they maybe, are the ones to cherish. Love them as they love you. Show them the same appreciation. For you are so very lucky to have them in your life.

Here’s to my beautiful best friends:

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.