Out of nowhere

Did you ever have one of those friendships that was so one-sided that you wondered if it was really a friendship at all?  People who only want to talk to you when they need to vent or otherwise need you for "something".  When you start to talk about your issues or concerns they abruptly have to go because of some issue or another.  They never seem to be around when you really need them, even if it's just to listen for a minute.

So, are they really your friends?  When asked about friends I usually reply, "Only a couple."  I actually had an acquaintance make fun of me because I only had 30 or so "friends" on FaceBook.  They were people I actually knew even though many I wouldn't really consider "friends".  This is how I see it:

1. Family members do not count - I may like some of the members of my family more than others, but I still cannot call them friends.  They're family.  They're supposed to endure all my BS regardless and I'm supposed to do the same for them, right?  Ok, next one....

2. Co-workers - These are folks that I have to be around if I want to get that glorious thing called money.  Some are harmless enough and I can ignore them.  Others have a way with incorporating the whole office (insert your own descriptive word here for the workplace) into their drama.  These folks really need a good therapist; someone who WANTS to hear the drama so that they can HELP them through it.  Occasionally, you will find that one soul who doesn't make you want to choke the life out of them and you try to make them your friend.  Depends on how they feel about you and your ideals in life.

3. Customers/Clients - OK.  These folks you have to be nice to in order to do your job.  So they really don't count either because they think you're such a sweet, wonderful person when perhaps you're not as you're just doing your job.  Again, perhaps there's one, now and again, that may actually have the potential to be a friend.

4. Neighbors - Kinda like co-workers.  You have to put up with them if you want to live where you do.  If not you can either fight or move.

I could probably go on forever on different categories of people we encounter in our lives through which we MAY find a friend.  But just because we know their names and/or they know ours doesn't a friend make.  So, what makes a friend?

To me, a real friend is there no matter what.  Good days, bad days.  Flush with money or flat broke facing eviction.  Healthy as can be or sick as a dog.  Kinda sounds like marriage vows...hmmmm.

Maybe I'm expecting too much and that's why I don't have that many friends.  Or maybe I realize just how precious the real ones are.  Well, at least I have the rest of my life to ponder this one.

Be well and be safe...