Posted on 05/07/2022 1:48:42 PM PDT by simpson96
Yuppers,
Thanks FRiend!
There are friends and there are acquaintances. A true friend is someone I would hop on a plane to help when they are in need. I have a few like that, like family without the shared genetics.
:)
At the end of the day...it’s not the number of friends you have...it’s the quality that counts.
There have been some good an interesting contributions to this thread, some in the same post. I will monitor it for content and share my thoughts on the subject in the FWIW column.
How many?
ZERO if they are not good, loyal, trustworthy, reliable, decent, moral, ethical, hard working, independent, men of good character and God fearing.
Good friends don’t ask others to fill their needs but will offer to help you in need if they can. They are the men you talk to about your life because you trust them and their judgement and because they will listen carefully. They are an honest and valuable sounding board and will always tell you the truth and you will accept it for being helpful because they have never willingly hurt you. They will share your work and your laughter as well as celebrate your victories and be proud for you. When bad things happen they say I am sorry for your loss, I can share your pain but not bear your burden. A good friend will come all the way across the country for your Momma’s funeral without being asked and stand-by in case there is something he can help you with. He knows he is subordinate to family but still wants to be standing by. Things like that are what my very few friends are made of. They may not know each other but when they meet they click, they are similar and value similar things. No more than five probably can ever be like that.
Some have said that if you use the fingers of more than one hand to count your friends you need to count again because some aren’t. I don’t expect my remaining friends to be at my funeral save for one because I have asked him to preach it. I figure the rest living will be there though and I at theirs to pay my respects.
If you want to keep good friends you have to be their equal or better in that regard.
I have never known the brotherhood of combat but have been in some tough spots. Most of my few friends were with me in those hard places.
My few friends are older, like me, I have already lost two of that small number. I doubt very much they will be replaced as I am trying to focus on being a good mentor in my latter years. I have sadly learned that not all family are friends, even close family, though my best friend ever was my Dad with whom I could work for hours without talking and we both pretty well knew what the other was thinking. He is long gone now but still sorely missed. There was also my mentor who is gone now as well.
After friends are proteges who may be a bigger responsibility than friends, acquaintances, then dangerous people and enemies.
My best friends and I part saying, “Holler if you need me.” and mean it because we both know the difference between want and need or one of life’s many troubles and a real emergency.
I can’t mention friends without God. He is the one friend I know I can turn to in my darkest hours and He is all I really have and all I should really need.
Approximately zero.
Then, I soon realized that the duplicity of a large group of my fellow creatures was the problem. I was in junior high school when I swore to myself that someday I was going to be great, immediately thinking, even if I was the only one who knew it.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by
John Donne
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
I feel I have lived up to my oath and I didn't bring any friends with me. Like several others have posted, my wife is my only friend. We have a comfortable Vulcan mind meld as God intended.
If we all just did our best there would probably only be small problems. Instead so many just do what is comfortable and we have this mess.
*Had one,
Ran off with
My Wife.* Miss him?
*That’s why I’m hiring professional mourners for my funeral.* U can always buy friends.*
I miss the dog .
I’ve had pretty Girls,
Drove some Fast Cars and
been on the Podium which
Leaves the Greatest Prize
.
.
Ahead.
.
There is but One Friend.
You need three friends.
8 hour shifts for them to rotate through.
You never know what time of day or night you’ll need that alibi.
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