Who are my favorite friends?

[Ben, Jonnie, Duncan and Dave]

When you start thinking about every moment as if it could be your last, it really brings up a lot of "quality vs. quantity" discussions. And I can't think of one of those that's harder to resolve than "More time with fewer friends", or "30 seconds with everyone."

I guess the trouble is that I've never really *stopped* being friends with anyone - I've just moved out of town. But the great memories, and the longing to reconnect, lingers. Given just one day, would I spend it traveling the world to track down those special people I haven't seen in years, or would I spend the whole day with the special ones who are near at hand? I don't really know.

[Co9Mom]

I can answer for me . . . . I've left special friends all over this country . . . I do my best not to lose them so I don't have to track them down. . . . . they are always on the other end of a phone line, an email, a flight, a car trip, a birthday card. Each friend you make in this world is "special" so you should never let them go . . . .

[rowdy yates]

True friends are hard to find,I am so lucky that the person I think of as my best friend is all so my wife.If my life was to be at a end , there is only one person I would like to spend the last moments with.

[Alida Hammond]

It's funny and coincidental that after finally joining your network that the first post I decided to make was in response to this. I've moved all my life (been to at least 9 different schools excluding college) and have connected with a lot of wonderful people. Recently (as in yesterday) I found a few of those special friends I moved away from on facebook.com and have set a date with them at the end of December to hang out and catch up on life over the last few years.

Thank you for continuing to inspire us all Buried Life!

[Co9Mom]

I totally understand where you are coming from. I grew up as an Army Brat. The eighth grade was the first year I finished one year in one school. I don't even know the number of K-12 schools I went to. But I too survived. And now I have friends all over the country and really all over the world because of it. I actually think, for me anyway, it was a great thing. I love the internet, because of it I have found old friends that I thought I'd lost and have been able to reconnect too. Have fun!

[Alida Hammond]

My dad works in film and he finally found a business up here in WA that he really likes and has set roots in...but it took a long time in the process. While growing up, I always dreaded certain months of the year dubbed "moving months" but now that I'm a little older and wiser -- moving allowed me to really expand my mind and perception of the U.S. and all the different areas/cultures of it. The internet has become a wonderful tool the last few years into getting back into contact with all the friends I left behind and thought I'd never see again. So far everything is working out quite well. = ]

[T.J. Blinn]

I believe that if you set out to find happiness then, inevitably, you are searching for meaningful friendship as well. We aren't made to be solitary, even those who enjoy it more tha most need to get out of their buble.

There is something about aging and becoming an adult in most of us that diminishes our facility (in some cases our ability) to make friends. Society as a whole recognizes this need, through television shows that glorify it (ie: Friends) or, advertisements showing groups of people together as the ideal or, the creation of negative connotations towards intravertism...

It is difficult to explain why we cannot all be a little nicer to eachother, stranger to stranger I mean. Why do we love to hear stories of people who venture out into life without a care in the world and take everyone along the way with them for the ride yet, we (again, for the most part) cannot do so ourselves?

Whenever I ask anyone about their happiest memories, the usual reply involves their friends. Whatever the key to happiness is, I believe having a good group of friends and, the consistant ability to make more, will certainly turn the lock on the proverbial door that we all, at various points in our lives, have stood behind waiting to be allowed admittance.

[morna]

If you can, get back in touch with those you left behind. We can easily take it for granted that we will bump into them one day and everything will slot into place. But peoples lives can be tragic. I've lost two friends who were really close at one point in my life - I just wish I had told them how special they were ito me, when I had the chance.

[ERIKA]

I would just spend it with the special ones who are close instead of traveling to see ones who are far away. Because nothing ever stands still! So those friends who I love but are far away might be very different, and the truth is, if all I get is that one last day, I'd rather keep the fond memories we've already created, and spend my last hours admiring and appreciating those who are constantly around me because there's a good chance they know me best and will give me the best day I could ask for! ;-)
Beijao da Brasileira!
* ~1~ *

[Hillary]

It all depends really on who it is. B/c I know that the two friends who I would hunt down to spend time with would be the people that I know would do the same for me. My family would be the people to spend the most time with, but my two BEST friends are both out of state, and we still keep in close contact, it's like they never left. So if I had to choose, it would be more time with fewer friends.

[Moonlight]

I also travelled around a lot, & I have friends that I have had to leave behind. I have very few really close friends. The ones I keep closest contact with is my family though we are all spread far & wide. Some are in the states, Russia, Holland, England, & recently one of my brothers went to the Philipines. If I had only one day left to live I would like to visit my Dad who I haven't seen since the Atlantic ocean seperated us about 10 years ago.

[Co9Mom]

Being a tad older than most of TBL members, let me tell you one thing I've learned about keeping in touch with friends and family that you've moved away from. It is not a 50/50 deal. Keeping in regular touch is hard for most folks. Intentions are there, but day to day life gets in the way until it adds up to years. Once you realize that you must make the extra effort - you must give more - if you really value those relationships, you must find a way to constantly keep in touch. It isn't easy, but it well worth it. In the end we will only have our memories and our love & friendships with friends & family to take with us. Enjoy every minute!

[Naomi Smedbol]

What about with a stranger?