Finding the 'Good' in 'People'

As you grow older, you have less friends. This sentence is not generally true for everyone. I know quite many people that still have buckets of friends though they're older than me. But it's very true for me.

When I was young, I don't care about it that much. I surround my self with anyone that remotely care to be around me. I would make a date with them again, again and again, even if I got stood up quite often. Then I realize. One of the truest test for friendship is time. No matter if you live at different continents, at different stages on life, could see each other about 2 times a year, the connection would still be strong whenever you talk to each other.

Friends come, friends go. Few friends stick, few have become mere acquaintances. Some even become quite nemesis that you prefer to avoid (or set 'stealth' on messengers).

But there are friends that are in some kind area, that you cannot quite categorize. They have been through a lot with you. Whether it's school or a job. You might or might not connect. You might or might not have things in common. But they are your friends nonetheless. Maybe you grew apart for certain numbers of years, then you reconnected (no thanks for Facebook). I don't have specific feeling for it (or maybe I don't feel at all :-p) but I have my mailing lists and my Facebook Groups from elementary school, high school (all 3 of them) and college (all 2 of them). I try to keep it small in numbers, and I don't participate actively in most. I would come to small gathering (I dislike big gathering) and only give a peep when I'm being asked (like, never). I'm still among a small circle of friends of my Al Azhar high school, whom I still contact heavily. We were very close then, we did everything together because we were the geeky outcasts, so there.

I have learned to view my best friends are my guarantee to good conversation and good laughs. Good conversations are still one of my biggest pleasure. As much as I love to chat with my bffs, I love to meet new friends and found out that we could have an extended version of a good conversation starting from getting-to-know-each-other. That's why I don't like big gatherings. I will be far more enjoying myself having one-on-ones or two of friends, in a quiet place with (preferably) a bottle of beer, talking and laughing silly until wee hours in the morning.

What about the friends that have proven themselves I cannot converse with them even in half an hour? (we'd be out of subject to talk to then and have awkward silence). I don't see them often anyway, and usually I would find one or few things that I love about them so I can keep loving them as friends, although we cannot be closer than we already are.

I have this one friend, that I don't have anything in common with, but I love how she really looks at me when we talk, and when we greet each other, she would kiss me on the cheek earnestly with her nose and lips (not one of those cheek to cheek sissy stuff). Strange as it may sound, I love her because of that. Another friend, who is annoying as hell. More often than not, we would yell at each other. But I love him because he's the only one who understands when I quote the silliest lines from 'Friends' and we can laugh our ass off just because that silly reason.

Again, as much as I love my friends and acquaintances, I'd like to steer away from liars, back-stabbers and friends who abuse me. I don't mind being used, but not abused.

I thank the universe that I have my friends. I thank every Gods that I have my best friends. For no matter how low I feel, it's them (aside from my family) that can make me feel that everything is worth living again.

Thank you for bearing with my morning ramblings that is my first post.