Last night a dear friend celebrated her 40th birthday with a small group of friends. So I reflected on my friends and what they mean to me.

It was my friend, Shaun Baker, that taught me the true meaning of friendship. Using the term 'friend' has nothing to do with how long you have known someone but the quality of friendship you share with them.

Shaun and I have known each other since 1986 but we have been the best of friends for only 3 years. One night I was having a bad time emotionally and got an urge to call Shaun to vent. I had never done that before. We knew each other but not well. We had done some shows together but did not hang out socially. Anyway, I called and he answered my call as though I called him on a daily basis. We talked for 3 hours that night!

When the bond is there then it is there. There is no denying it. "Friend" is a term I no longer use loosely because of Shauno. "Friend" is someone I know has my back and I have their's. I would fight for you. You are not the fodder for my jokes. You are precious to me.
I am blessed to have a large group of people I call "friends". They range from 25-70. I have known some for just a short period of time and others for many, many years. I have had people disappear from my life only to re-appear years later. Some disappear and never reappear (not yet anyway). There are friends I talk to on a daily basis and others maybe once a year.

At my birthday celebration I noticed that my friends are in groups:
work, theatre, family, etc.

The joke was that none of them knew each other. How sad for all of you because all of you are so great but I smile because I am so blessed. I thank God for you everyday.
Thanks Christie for allowing me to share your birthday with you.

P.S. Christie, although you said that you never tell me enough how much I mean to you and I told you that you say it often so I know, the truth is, I can never hear it enough.