About the gift of friendship...

Having a friend in your life is such a gift. Women have a different kind of relationship with their friends than men do. I don't know this for a fact, I have simply observed this. We actually tell our friends how we feel. Men rarely talk about "feelings". I know that we do this way to much and not often enough. We often hear or say things that we shouldn't -but a friend forgives you because that's what a true friend does.

I began my life with a "built in" friend. My little sister. We definitely did and said things to each other that hurt, on purpose and by mistake. It was a great opportunity to try out a life long friendship. I count her as my dearest friend. Sisters have a way of loving you, in spite of the hell that you made them live in, throughout their entire childhood. It's like punches and head locks for brothers ,only the bruises are often emotional. But on occasion they were physical too- I broke my sisters finger during one of our fights! There weren't too many of those. We were verbal fighters. We shared everything... a room, our clothes, one bathroom. We don't fight anymore.

Many of my closest friends are nurses like me. I guess we attract each other, like magnets we've stuck together pretty tightly for about 30 years. On the pediatric unit where we all met as new grads, we built trust and memories working together and playing together. We have helped each other get through some of the saddest days and the most wonderful days, a person could have at their job. If that was sitting with a parent who had just been told that their child had died or if we've jumped up to answer a call to help as the doctors work to keep a child alive after she had been struck by a car. That kind of bond takes you to a different level with your friend. The honesty of your hardest days are true measurements.

A true friend is not afraid to tell you the truth. She will also spare you as much pain as possible. " You don't like it???-I asked ...If I didn't want you tell me the truth, I wouldn't ask." or, "Yeah, your ass does look HUGE in those pants, but your SHOES are terrific.".

My friends have been my lookouts. They scout ahead for me and protect me from trouble. I try to do the same for them. My friend Jan is the best at this. Thinking ahead and preparing me for trouble, traps or ambushes. She is a great listener and jumps in to be anything that I need her to be. I've enjoyed her companionship as much as I would a sister's. We took a trip to Florida one spring to do some work on the family condo. We were arguing about a comforter we were purchasing, and where to eat dinner. Suddenly, we noticed that we had "drawn a crowd". They thought that we were sisters!!! The women at the register insisted that we were. What fun we had.

So ladies, treasure your friends. Remember to be truthful, honest, and like a great BRA always use a little bit of "padding" to give the best support. Tell them how important they are to you.

Hallmark should declare a BEST FRIENDS DAY.