Boys of Summer

~Close friends since 1968 and 1973 (The word friend is used here in it's literal sense.)

47 years is a longtime to have known someone, especially when you're both only 56. The same could be said for having known someone for 42 years.

That's how long I've known these two Goomers (middle and right). And a close friendship that goes back to your cartoon days is difficult to beat.

You can make a new friend everyday, but you can never go back and make an old one. Old friendships by nature of the title take a long time to develop. Which brings me to my point: The word "friend" in my not so humble opinion, is quite often overused. Often times the word friend is unintentionally spoken as a misnomer. I've heard people refer to someone as friend when all indications are they are in truth merely acquainted. There's nothing wrong with that.

Although I don't necessarily consider myself an expert on friendship, to me it seems somewhat of a stretch to think two individuals can become "dear friends" after having only spent a handful of hours in each others company. I suppose you could develop a dear friendship over the course of maybe a few months, providing that time was spent stranded together on a desert island while depending on one another for your very survival. Even under those circumstances, it would seem likely only if you spent each evening around a campfire, divulging the details of your respective lives, including what you believe, what you stand for, the things you'd be willing to die over, your fears, likes, weaknesses, passions and dreams; along with your general view of the world. But that's just how I see it.

I've shared some thoughts on this subject before, but felt it was worthy of additional consideration. No hidden message and no ulterior motive. I was just recently thinking about it when a prominent TV correspondent referred to a retiring Army General as "My dear friend". I immediately wondered how much time these two gentlemen had spent together outside to world of news stories. I'm guessing not a lot.

As you go through life, consider the reality of the different relational categories the people in your life actually fit into. Is someone a casual acquaintance, a good acquaintance, a casual friend, a good friend, or a dear & close friend. To me, "dear & close friend" is the pinnacle of friendship. I'm fortunate to have a few and over the course of watching those friendships grow, have found that the best way to develop a dear close friend, is to first focus your energies on trying to be one.  

The title you choose to give the various individuals you've met up to this point in your life is up to each of us and you might want to consider keeping it to yourself. Unless that title is in fact "friend". It probably would not go over real well if you introduced two individuals by saying, "Bart, I'd like you to meet my dear close friend, Bob! Bob this is my casual acquaintance, Bart."

I'll keep you posted....