Friendship

My granddaughter told me I make friends wherever I go. I guess having a conversation with a total stranger is making friends to her. I don't strike up a conversation with everyone, just when I am in the mood, or I feel I need to say something. I usually read the person before I start a conversation. In other words, it depends on the time and place.    

I was recently on a plane. I never change my seat, EVER! I believe I am meant to sit in the seat I am assigned for a reason. This time the reason was to make new friends. From Comox to Calgary, my new friend had the neatest glasses. They looked like she had bedazzled them, but she got them in Mexico. I couldn't take my eyes off of them. She had such an interesting life as an owner of a general store on one of the islands off of BC. You had to take 2 ferries to get there. A life that was foreign yet fascinating to me. 

My next seat partner was probably my age, everyone is my age it seems. Right from my first words, she got my sense of humor. My opening comment was, "did you happen to notice our pilots are children". She simply said, "I did". We launched into a conversation about how young pilots are now adays, and we never stopped talking until we landed in Brandon. Seat partner #2 is still a practicing nurse. She was registered in Manitoba and BC. She could retire but was choosing not to, because she hadn't found her purpose. Nurses have stories that only another nurse understands. We had so many laughs, I can't believe we weren't friends already. When we arrived in Brandon, I said to her, "the kids did a good job of making up time in the air". She replied, "I'm just glad that we didn't come in upside down". I will never see Teresa and Pat again, but I felt like we had always been friends.  

Friendships are either acquaintances, close friends or best friends. An acquaintance is defined as someone that you know slightly. A close friend is someone that we have a strong connection; trust and enjoy spending time with. Last up is a best friend or a BFF. They are someone you share a deep bond with, and you both give and receive support, trust and care equally about each other.  

Friends are the most important and best thing to have in our lives. It is a fact that one friend will give more to the relationship than the other. Both of the friends are aware of that. That happens all of the time in life and friendships are no different. Friends remember things that you have going on in your life. They are the ones that send that text that says, "have a great trip" or "how was your visit". They also remember the anniversary dates of struggle. Everyone has forgotten but a BFF rarely does and another text pops up to let you know they are thinking about you.  

It seems with friendship you may not talk for days, weeks or maybe months, but the second you start to talk it doesn't matter. Picking up where you left off is where the conversation starts. 

Friends don't say, "what can I do for your". They say, "I am dropping off a meal", "I will pick you up at this time" or a simple, "how can I help?". If you are struggling and you can't seem to get it together, your friends will keep you going. They help you put one foot in front of the other and support you with every step of the way.  

I have recently been reminded that friends will come back into your life for a variety of reasons. Some friends are just worth recycling.   

A "Best Friend" steps it up to a whole other level. Having a best friend is a treasured relationship. A BFF will come into your life at various times. Some people have a bestie from the first day of school. Some find their best friend by connecting at a happy occasion, children's events, tragedy or sadness. I always say, "you can have many friends, but you only need one best friend". I hope everyone has someone that you would call your "Bestie". 

You never have to say to your bestie, "don't tell anyone". They know what they can share and what is a secret. A BFF will set you straight, and you will respect what they say. No one else will get away with it like they do. You never have to explain to your soul sister how you feel, they already know. They are feeling it as well only in a silent heartbreaking way. You can't shock your best friend, they know what you are capable of. 

Best friends will often talk over each other. Soar from one topic to another and basically it is chaos that only they understand. A bestie will never say, "you told me that already". One more time until it stops hurting. 

Sometimes I can't be bothered to chat on a plane or other opportunities. But it seemed making friends in BC was happening at every turn. Since I ran my own business, I make more of a point of thanking small business owners. It is a struggle to run your own business, and even more so right now. One compliment will make a person's day.  

I believe that we don't need a big group of friends. It depends on the different aspects in your life, or communities as I have already shared. I treasure all my friendships, my acquaintances, my close friends and of course my BFF.