True Friends

True friends are hard to find. I mean real, true blue, see you with snot hanging out of your nose and not care friends. Friends who stand by you even when you're being shitty. Friends who know your darkest secrets and don't care that you're sort of a putz. Friends that you can go months without talking to and not hold it against you. Let me tell you, they are hard to find and few and far. If you have a friend like that, do not...DO NOT let go of them!

I've know that I had some real keepers but lately, things have happened that let me know that I have some new true friends. 

First, let me tell you about my oldest friends. Karen H. is my oldest friend. I've known her since we were in middle school. We've had a million sleepovers, snuck out of the house together, driven countless miles riding around town looking for boys, probably gotten into a few tiffs but always recovered, and have stories that might get one another into trouble. 

Marilyn M. is my second oldest friend. She was my first friend after being uprooted my sophomore year and forced to move to the wicked city. She knew and watched me evolve with my first love. And she helped me with the subsequent breakup and heartbreak. We did a few things that would absolutely make our mothers cringe but we survived. We were friends and roommates and pals. Marilyn was the girl that I had an unspoken standing agreement with - whenever one of us experienced heartbreak, the other would show up with a 12 pack of beer and we'd drink the troubles away for a time. We've experienced marital woes and then, being a new parent woes. She was always the voice of reason for me - the level headed one. She helped me through 2 kids and a divorce. She is and will always be my spiritual counselor.

I've been going through an upheaval in my life right now and I have 2 new true friends. These are girls who will still be associated with me, even though I'm a social pariah in some circles. They don't care that I've royally fucked up in some areas. They laugh at my stupidity and OCD tendencies,  and look out for me to make sure I don't continue to screw up my life. They have the guts to say "hey asshole - don't do that kind of stupid shit or you're going to be in deeper than you already are!" 

The coolest part is that these people know me, love me, look out for me and continue to be my friends. I'm so grateful for that! I honestly have absolutely no idea why they stand by me and why the forgive me all of the time. In my mind, I'm a total spaz and I absolutely do not deserve their friendship and yet, they continue to be there for me. 

These 4 girls in particular have no idea the depth of love and admiration that I have for them. It might be a week or 6 months since we've spoken to one another but I think about them every day. And I love them dearly. And I am eternally grateful that I have them.

Good friends are hard to come by. If you have one or three or 50, keep them close and let them know that you love them. They are priceless.