First 2015 Post on...My Unique Friendships

I have a confession to make, not all of my friendships are equal. I am sure I will get an unhappy text for writing this, but there are some friends who will probably never reach the best friend status. It isn’t their fault. They may bear a different label, but I can’t live without them.

             

       The No-pressure friend. I bet you have one too. This is the kind of friend who doesn’t see you for at least a month or maybe a year, but doesn’t mind playing catch up. I have several friends who moved to this category without asking because we live so far away from each other, but I look forward to our long banters over the phone. I still feel loved and supported and in the end I cherish every one of them.

             

       The Play-Date Friend. I only get to hang out with this gal pal when we can get our kids together. We often meet at a park after texting all the information of when and where to connect. We weave our conversation in and out of distractions or interruptions such as when our children need a snack or want help swinging on the monkey bars. We may struggle to bond at times, but more importantly, we call each other friend.

The New Friend.  This comrade is similar to dating. It has the potential for more or it can cause a speedy trip to the nearest hiding place while repeatedly whispering, “What was I thinking?” While the process and time it takes to move a relationship from stranger to acquaintance to friend can be awkward and perhaps even painful, it is without a doubt a relationship full of hope. And she doesn’t know the real me yet!

The Wipe your Nose, Childhood Friend. Yes, you read that right. I might be the only one who possesses this kind of friend. Her name is Viviane. That’s all I am going to personally divulge about her because she has dirt, LOTS of dirt on me. I met her when we were 13 and in the 27 years and counting, we have witnessed each other graduate, date boys we shouldn’t have, attend college, discover truths about ourselves(whether we will admit them or not), get married, have children and learn to trust God even when it is most difficult.  And yes, she wiped my nose during my mom’s funeral. I know. Can you believe she did that for me? Really, she is family and I am barely scratching the surface of what makes her so special. I cannot and refuse to imagine my life without her.

Even though these relationships are less than perfect, even strained at times, I am grateful for them. Better to have any of the above friends then no friends or worse...only fair or foul-weathered friends-those are friends I can live without!