Monday, May 09, 2005

Of friends and accquaintances

About 15 years ago, I remember have a conversation with my parents about how many people we believe that we know - i.e. Friends, family accquaintances. My dad said he know 50, and we quickly made him realized that he knew a lot more, seeing that our immediately family was at least close to that many people.

I think that all through our lives, we meet and befriend various people and our relationships with them vary over time. You might have a had a best friend in grade school who was inseparable from you, but then once you went to two different High Schols, your paths may have diverged considerably. My relationship with each of my siblings has definitely morphed over the years as well, not to mention the relationship with my wife and in-laws and her siblings.

I will probably be the first to admit that while I can easily work a room, I haven't in many cases beeen the best long-term friend/brother/son, etc. There are many relationships that I have squandered over the years and at the same time, many that have gone away and come back.

Recently, I realized the need to make the effort to be more in touch with some of those people that I really care about, but at the sametime haven't been in too close contact with. I hope that it is more of a better late than never situation than one that is too little too late.

I also hope to teach my sons the value of friendship as a long-term investment of your time. You never know when you're going to need a friend, and it's nice to know that there are those that you rely on.


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