Shout Out to the Wonderfuls!

So no one told you life was gonna be this way! (I sincerely hope you clapped four times). 

If you caught on to this reference, then you’re already well aware of the topic of this week’s blog. For those of you who have never seen the show I am referencing, this blog is all about friends without whom life would be significantly less enjoyable.

Now, if you’re like me, you have a large variety of friends, all of which fall into very different categories and have helped you create very different types of awesome memories. You've got everything from that best friend you always hang around, to that one friend you only see now and again but are always able to pick up right where you left off, you've got those friends you chat with all the time but never get to see, etc.  

Let’s take the time to remember each of these friends shall we? As we do so, I would like to challenge you to contact those who come to mind and let them know you thought of them while reminding them of the legen… 

wait for it…  

dary moments that you remembered. 

You've got the Best Friend (or two if you’re like me and have one best friend of each gender). These people are your go to for almost, if not absolutely, everything. You’re there for them and they are there for you. You've done absolutely ridiculous things (like pretending to have an old lady race with invisible walkers so that the security guys watching the cameras can have a chuckle) and shared conversations that you’re pretty sure would confuse the shit out of anyone stupid enough to plant a listening device in your proximity, maybe even get you arrested. You are always frank with these friends, sometimes outright blunt. There are no boundaries when it comes to conversations with these people, and because of it, people have often wondered if the two of you were an item. You often feel as though you would be completely lost without them. 

You've got the Calls You on Your Bullshit Friend. This friend knows you. You may say you’re alright while you give them a big smile but they Know better. This is the friend who knows when something is bothering you and knows just what to do to help you feel better. This is the friend who comes over with steak and watches Resident Evil with you after a break up because they know you better than to think chocolate and a chick flick is how you cope. This is the friend who kidnaps you and brings you to camp for the weekend because you've had a stressful week at work. This is that awesome friend that sees you make One face, one small expression, and knows. Nothing escapes these friends and you love them all the more for it.

You've got the Party Friend. Conversations may or may not run deep, but this friend is always down for an adventure no matter how last minute. These are the friends you call up when you’re invited to a party, want to hit the bar, or feel like going dancing, regardless of the hour. If they’re not scheduled to work, they’ll be there, if they are working… let’s just say, *cough* their throat suddenly becomes a little itchy and their roommate has had a cold all week….. 

You’ve got the Bad Influence Friend. You know the one; that one friend that brings out your best terrible habits. The one friend who, without even trying, get’s you to act outside your normal comfort zone. You know you’re going to be out late with this friend, you’re going to have more to drink, you might be hungover the next day but…. Damn will it be worth it. This isn’t a friend you should hang out with on a work night but hey, who can resist the fun you know you’ll have. This friend may be a terrible influence on you but they’re a fantastic influence on the memories you are creating.  

You’ve got the Shoulder To Cry On Friend. You may not talk to this friend all the time, but you can be damn sure that if something is going on in your life that has you bummed out or under the weather, they will lend you a shoulder to cry on. You can always talk to these friends about what is bothering you, no matter what. You know you can always count on these friends to let you feel what you are feeling without ever making you feel pathetic for it. They understand. 

You’ve got The Too Bad They Are Taken Friend. They’re attractive, funny, intelligent, and the two of you get on fantastically. There’s just one problem; they’re either taken, or there is a significant obstacle standing in the way. This person means the world to you, they mean enough to you that you would never dare do anything that would lead to their unhappiness. It’s okay though because the two of you are genuinely okay with just being friends because at least that way you still have them in your life. 

You’ve got the Long Distance Friend. You may live far away from each other, but nothing is going to stop your friendship from staying strong. This friend is the perfect excuse for a road trip, for visiting the tourist attractions in your own city, and for appreciating all of the wonders technology and the internet have to offer you and your friend. These are the friends you watch movies with, while in two different cities, while texting or on Facebook chat so that you can comment in real time on what you are seeing as though you were right next to each other on the couch.  

You’ve got the Most/All of the Above Friend. Kudos to you for having this friend in your life. They’re that special kind of best friend that you wish everyone had. You know life would be so much better for everyone if they had what the two of you have which makes you appreciate having them all the more. This friend really does make your world a better place.

Can you think of other types of friends? Have any awesome experiences with friends you’d like to share? Comment below and give your own friends a special shout out for being a positive influence on your accumulated memories.

Cheers!

The Bra Street Rambler