Friendly Encounters

I live in an electronic world.  If you're reading this, so do you.  In this world I have sent tendrils of myself out in exploration of kindred souls - friends, in essence.  And those tendrils take many guises.  I always was good at making "friends", but I never was that good at making FRIENDS.  What's the difference?  A "friend" is a person of passing acquaintance - one who you may know for a short time or as long as several years, then fall out of contact with and never truly share time and activities again.  I have a lot of those and I'm sure that most people do.  A FRIEND, on the other hand, is someone who sticks with you and who you stick with, through thick and thin.  FRIENDS include long-time friends who are almost relatives - my cousin Missy comes into that category.  We've been FRIENDS since we were able to walk and are still in contact after more than 50 years.  My FRIEND Sharon is another of these people - friends since High School, we get together annually for a special and wonderful time together and then separate again for another year.  We're there for each other.  My DH is another FRIEND, and if your spouse or significant other is not a FRIEND, perhaps you should re-examine your choice in companion.  Spouses can be difficult, however, because they can switch between best supporter and worst enemy at the drop of a hat and mood. 

Best Friends are Forever!

Anyway, to return to the basic premise....  I, like anyone reading this blog, have sent out my own electronic tendrils.  Those have expanded to a Facebook page and now to a Live Journal page.  I got those pages because I was friended by people on those sites.  I also have a small presence on other social networking websites, but those are minor.  I have had the opportunity, through attendance at various events, to meet some of these "friends" that my tendrils have made and I have found that I really like them.  There is a commonality that I feel with them because of the activities that we have in common.  So I will continue to send out my "friend" tendrils and see what they find.  Who knows?  A "friend" may become a FRIEND of my future.