I have several very close friends and quite a few good friends. Talk to them all fairly regularly and go out to breakfast or put shorting or rambling in the woods a couple times a month.
Whoever said “to have a friend you must be a friend” nailed it. The very close friends I’ve had have not always been friendly friendships and I’ve had to overlook their flaws as much as they’ve had to overlook mine, and there have been times I was convinced that equation showed I was the better friend but this “f you I don’t need you I’m a man” stuff woulda hurt me in the long run.
These guys have helped me move, helped me through loss and success, told me when I was being an ass and been there to reinforce fatherly wisdom to my kids when they wouldn’t listen to me. They make me a better man because they genuinely want what’s best for me and are even willing to fight me when I have a different idea.
Pretty awesome; can’t say how grateful I am for them all. Especially in trying times like these.
