True Friends

So, tonight's post was supposed to be entitled 'Facedumped' and was to chronicle the lessons I learned during my Lenten sacrifice of Facebook, however...

I have learned a very important lesson regarding friendship over the last few days that especially touched me tonight.  I decided to forgo the Facebook post until tomorrow and go with my friendship lesson tonight.  I hope it touches you in some way like it did me.

True friends...

...are there for you when you need them - whether you know it or not.
...know that sometimes you just need Mexican...even if it is just a reason to drink a pitcher {or two} of frozen margaritas.
...know how to listen, even when you can't talk.
...celebrate your badges - and have their own.
...send the text they know you need - even if you don't answer it.
...celebrate you for who you are right now, not who they want you to be.
...give you a bloggy award - because you're funny, but also just because.
...notice when you're missing.
...call when they get your cryptic email - even if they're busy.
...keep on you because they know you have 'star potential,' could be 'red hot,' or are a 'shining star' in the making - you just need to see it.
...smile with you when you're happy and cry with you when you're sad.
...understand that sometimes you have to 'buck up.'
...keep calling - even when you don't return their phone calls.
...understand that a relationship is reciprocal and cyclical.  It's not all about you and it's not all about them.
...are comfortable saying, 'I don't know what you're going through, but I'm here for you.  No matter what.'  Because that really does make a difference...
...totally understand that your kid just doesn't eat, or just has dry skin, or just doesn't sleep, or just can't run fast because that's the way they were made...and that's okay.

Thank you, true friends... for being there, for loving me, and for making me love myself.  I can't always be there for myself, so thank you for doing it for me.  I love each of you.