It’s 10:30 on a snowy Saturday morning, I’m sitting here in the Beans & Brews Coffeehouse while I wait for the tire shop to put on my snow tires. I’m sitting here enjoying a warm beverage and some time to myself.

The moment would be ideal if not for the nagging thought that the list of people in my life who are willing to “be there for me, unconditionally” continues to shrink.

You see in life you have friends, and you have friends. What’s that you say? I just used the same word twice? Yeah I suppose I did, however even if the word doesn’t change there is a clear distinction between the two groups.

I like the way Doc Holiday expressed it in the classic 1993 western “Tombstone”, when asked why he was risking his life to assist Wyatt Earp:

Turkey Creek Jack Johnson: Why you doin’ this, Doc?

Doc Holliday: Because Wyatt Earp is my friend.

Turkey Creek Jack Johnson: Friend? Hell, I got lots of friends.

Doc Holliday: …I don’t.

Doc understood that there was a distinction between those that were occasional friends or acquaintances, and those on a much shorter list that were really friends.

I referred to a list earlier, it’s not printed, laminated or final. Sometimes it’s long but more often than not its short, because hell, I’ve got lots of friends… and then again, I don’t.