Friends are awesome. They come in so many different forms and provide many different types of friendship. I have friends that I met 22 years ago, friends that I met one year ago, friends that only come in book form, friends that are covered in fur, and even friends that I happen to be related to (there are probably more types, I just can't think of them right now).
I honestly do not know how I could handle much of what life has thrown at me without friends. I am eternally grateful to my friends who are always there, whether I need them or not, but boy do the times I needed them stand out. I don't know how many times I have spent hours with friends crying over break-ups, and they sit, listen, offer 'He's scum' comments when appropriate, and buy me stuffed animals to help. My two best friends are excellent at this. One of my best friends even stood next to me in the examining room at the vet's while I had my beloved cat of 12 years put down.
These same friends are the first to be down for random lunches and dinners, are fine with sitting around and hanging out, and are great shopping buddies.
I try my best to be a good friend too. I take the crying phone calls, drop what I'm doing when someone needs to get away for a bit, and am always down for celebrating the good things in my friend's lives.
I was honored to officiate the wedding of my longest running best friend two weekends ago. I stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon (sans guardrail) and helped my best friend join her life to the man she loves.
So, along with stopping to smell the flowers, stop and appreciate your friends.
