Real friendship is shown in times of trouble; prosperity is full of friends. 
Euripides
My mother always told me "if one has only a few true friends in one's lifetime, one is lucky." At the time, I did not quite understand what she was trying to explain. Now that I am older and wiser, the meaning is loud and clear!"My People" have seen me through "thick and thin," literally. They have been there through every conflict and crisis, diet - fad or legitimate, death of loved ones - human or four legged, depression and sadness, layoff and promotion, and celebration and marriage. They are privi to my deepest darkest secrets, my wishes and my wildest dreams; I can be my true, raw, naked self with them and they are still by my side. I think that Ralph Waldo Emerson sums it up nicely "A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud." "It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."
