good topic, fuzzybear!!
i've been very blessed to have some pretty awesome long time friends. in a perfect world friends would love us unconditonally. in my little world, my friends really do too!! gosh knows i have my faults but their friendships have been long lasting in spite of myself! i feel the very same way about them also. we've been there to pick up the pieces of our lives together many, many times. i know i am never alone altho most of my very, very best friends live miles away from me now. my new friends know not to call me on weekends too early cause they know i'm on the phone with my old friends. we chat at least once a week. some i have not phsycially seen in 10 years but they continue to call me and me them. we value our relationship. we respect each other. we support each other in good times and not so good itmes. several years ago i lost two of my very best friends within 3 months of each other. they were up in age and "time" just caught up with them. it was difficult to feel the loss of them in my life but i have photos on my wall of both of them.
many years ago in therapy i discovered my dysfunctional family was not always the best people for me to hang around with for any length of time in one sitting. (imagine that!) so i made myself a "new family" made up of friends. when i told them i was moving over 1000 miles away they were sad but they wished me well and said they would stay in touch and they have. my life is so enriched by having those very special friends in my life even today.