Friends

Friends – how does one define a friend? Is it someone who is there for the moment of need or someone who you can call when you find some extra time? I’ve been told that friends are “for a reason, a season or a lifetime”.

Friends for a reason are usually only around or active for a specific event in one’s life. Not that this diminishes the importance of said friends… these friends were probably the most important people around during a specific time. It’s just that once the purpose is served, these friends move on. I know that I have been a friend for a reason to many people over the years. I am always glad to have been of help (in whatever small way) but you know when it’s time to move on. Cards are always welcome.

Friends for a season are around a little longer. A season can be defined by the calendar or by a chapter in one’s life. I know having been former military that quick friendships are made overseas and many, unfortunately, don’t continue past the tour. Other friendships are made out of circumstance and could continue for a couple of weeks, or months or years. Some of those friendships that do endure the comings and goings of the other friends as well as the good, the bad and the ugly… these are the friends for a lifetime.

I am very happy to say that I have a few very good friends that have seen me at my best and my very worst. I am thankful for these friends. I like to think that we will one day, look back at our experiences and laugh, good and hard, about some of the decisions (mainly mine) that were SOOOO important and turned out to be, well, not so much.

With this in mind, I like to think that the friendships I have made in Turkey will ultimately be those of a lifetime. Something in the way that people treat each other and how they cherish a friend and friendship leads me to believe that this will be true.

Turkey will always be home to me. J