A Weekend With Friends

Most of us end up in a place where we look back at different points in our lives and wonder how we got to where we are now. Whether it's how we ended up in the career we are in, how we ended up in the good/bad financial situation we are in, or how we ended up blessed or stuck with the friends we have. I know that I have considered myself blessed to have the friends I do. I have a great core of people that I have known for a long time, and we have put each other through the paces. I think it has been because we have been through so much with each other that makes us such good friends.

First of all, let me expand on the concept of friends. "Friend" is one of the most overused words in the English language. Most people use the word to simply mean anyone they have met. I hear "My friend so and so did this", or "my friends and I went out bar hopping last night". But how many of these "friends" would truly be there if you needed them to be. There is an old joke that refers to what a friend is:

A buddy is someone who will come and bail you out of jail.
A friend is sitting there beside you trying to figure out how you both got caught.

I think the friend is the one who told you that you were insane to attempt what you were about to do and still comes down to drag your ass out of the pokey. Then, of course, they proceed to give you grief for the rest of your life because they told you so. I consider myself lucky to have some of that type of people in my life.

I had a rare weekend where I got to see most of that group. I had lunch with Trevor on Friday, helped Justin with his basement floor on Saturday morning, and got to hang out with the "family" on Saturday night. The family I talk about is Matt, Jill, Kristi, and Shane. We don't get to see each other as a group very often, and it was fun. We even got Shane to talk about something other than work for a while. I hope they all had as good of a time as I did.

I bring all of this up because I think about my daughter to be and her future. I wonder if she will be able to develop the strong friendships that I have been able to develop. Even when I have pushed and pushed my friends are there for me. Even when I have felt like there was no one to turn to they were there. I hope they realize they can lean on me too. I know they will never understand how much I appreciate them and what they mean to me. I hope Anna Grace is able to find friends like that.

I have often been told that my group is not the norm. Most people look at our friendships and have no way of relating to them at all. When you look at it I guess I can see why. I have been close to the same group of people for close to 20 years now. How many friendships can most people say they have had for that long? Emilee does not understand it. She appreciates it, but she does not really understand it. Is it a man mentality vs. a woman mentality? I don't know any women that have the same kind of friendships. Will Anna Grace be lucky enough to have the kind of friends I do? I really hope so.

I want to say thanks for those that have always been there for me, even when we really did not like each other. So Matt, Shane, and Trevor thank you. Kris and Chuck no length of time between contacts will ever be long enough to make the next time uncomfortable. And Topper, Robin, and Justin welcome to the family. Finally I want to give an extra special thanks to Kristi, Jill, and Emilee. I know what a special hell you three go through dealing with the "boys", and I want you to know I love all of you.

Think about the people in your life. I know mine is better because of the few I call a friend. If you feel the same way, let them know.

Stay Safe,

Rob