What Are Friends For?

[cabinetman]

We all have them...people you don't hear from until they need something. I have many longtime friends, one who left town to visit his aging mother. Of course, I drove him to the airport, and agreed to check up on his pool chemicals. While picking him up for that ride find out he doesn't lock his rear door because the hinges have all pulled loose.

He said he tried to repair it but it kept coming loose. Being a buddy, and being pretty handy, I offered to fix it for him. Somehow I got the impression that he knew I might be more successful than he was with the fix.

I don't mind helping out and don't charge for the favor. They do offer to pay, but you know how that goes.
.

[jackellis]

I asked a professional acquaintance for help last weekend installing shelves and cabinets. We made sure they were properly fed and since I've learned he's a woodworker, he gets to do me another favor by taking a few pieces of hardwood lumber off my hands when I get time to take it down to him. Another long-time friend of ours helps out up here all the time, but then again they are frequent and welcome house guests.

[cgallery]

Most, if not all, of my closer friends have moved to other parts of the country (are they trying to tell me something?).

I only get to talk to them via phone and chat, and an occasional trip to visit.

I'd love to have them move closer. They could use me like a rented mule, for all I care.

[Ed62]

I have a neighbor next door, who I call on whenever I need something that doesn't take too much of his time. I never pay him, but he also calls me when he needs a hand. It works very well, and we've become pretty good friends.

Ed

[L. D. Jeffries]

IMHO friends don't charge friends no matter what!

[conwaygolfer]

I agree

that we all have and need friends for various reasons. Including those already mentioned. Of course, we have to be a friend in return.
The "friend" I prefer is what I would call a "close friend". In 62 years I have only found 2 such people. This is the person that you can bare your soul to, express your true feelings without fear of being judged, etc.. No fear of having what you said being repeated down the line. Someone who you can call on no matter what, and you know they will be there for you. And again, you also have to be this kind of friend in order to have one.
They are few and far between though.

Conwaygolfer

[footprintsinconc]

funny you bring this topic up. i just started to figure out how i was going to clean up my garage so i can start some ww when i got a call from two of my friends. i went over to the first friend's house to help him replace his car battery since he doesnt have any tools that would have done the job. after i left his house, i realized that i forgot my riding gloves there. i was on my way to another friends house who broke a table's leg attachment when i ran out of gas on my MC. i simply coasted onto the sidewalk and realized that i forgot my cell phone home! so there was a guy at the corner holding a sign for a local builder who was kind enough to let me call wife so i could get bailed out.

so i am thinking, when you help others out, you get the help when you need it too.