Central Perk

What makes a person a great friend? What makes someone a person who you want to be around for an extended period of time? I’ve found myself recently questioning those around me. As I have been thrown into this new life in Florida, I am finding that my old friends have changed as much as I have. The new friendships and bonds I am making are also interesting. But what makes a great friend? I think it’s time that is the best judge!!

I spent Labor Day weekend with some close High School Friends. The bond between us is sometimes closer than blood. Brother’s from another mother is an understatement in how close we are. As we begun our weekend shenanigans, the wife’s and girlfriend of these guys could only shake their heads at our ongoing stupidity!! What fools we mortals are!! Grown men acting like 12 yr old kids all over again. It was great. I have known these guys longer than I have known myself. They are such a part of my development as an adult; I can’t imagine my life with out them!! Very few people are lucky to share these types of friendships that have lasted over 15yrs! I consider myself blessed.

Throughout my life I have had thousands of acquaintances. These are people I have met through various organizations, clubs, sports, trips, bars, churches, etc… Have you ever tried to write down everyone you know? You will be amazed by the list!! Through all these people though, my list of close friends is fairly short. Not always by choice of my own, but some relationships dwindle over time, and some never lose a spark. It is just based on the connection you may have with that person. I have one friend who I have known since I was 5. We are so close that the language between us is unspoken. A simple glance and we are cracking up on the ground!! I have another set of friends that started around 6th grade. These guys also have that same dialect with me. Once I reached Kansas, I had to make find a new set of friends being all alone. I quickly bonded with my roommate and other kids in my dorm. My band friends also are like brothers and sisters to me in a strange band universe!! (it is a band thing, you wouldn’t understand).

After college though, the trend suddenly stopped. I found myself at the end of my exclusive friend list. For a new friend to be added on, it meant someone had to be deleted. I was thinking about the friends I have made in the past 5 years in comparison to the ones I made in the first 23 and the list is barely off of my two hands. As odd as this was, I noticed this more now in Florida than I did in Cali. As I am out mingling with friends here locally, I have met a ton of new people, yet I don’t feel the need to invite new friends into my life. I am not a snob; I just have all positions filled right now!! The relationships I currently have are enough to carry me through. This saddens me as I want to meet as many people as I can, yet I just don’t have the motivation to re-introduce myself over and over again. I am content with what I have been blessed with.
The Sunday before Labor Day we were all in a Starbucks lounging on chairs and avoiding the Florida rain. For a brief moment, I had to chuckle as my life had become a sit-com, everyone with coffee or tea in hand talking and laughing. I realized how fortunate I am to have all of you that I consider a friend in my life. Whether I have knwn you for a week or 23yrs, I have so many great stories about everyone. Even though I am not getting paid by the episode, the memories that have been made are truly priceless.