Let's Save Our Hallmark Moment...

F.R.I.E.N.D.

What does it mean? What is it? There are a lot of different kinds of "friends". It's a little crazy, really. Looking at my Facebook I realized I have quite the variety of "friends".

There are your best friends. You know, the one or two people you actually call your best friends. The ones who are always there for you. You can talk to them about anything and everything. You know each other so well you could be relatives and you hope you will always be best friends.

There are real friends. The ones you actually talk to and see in person on a regular basis. The ones you actually like hanging out with and even though you always have a good time hanging out, they aren't close enough to be called your "best friends".

There are friends-of-friends. These are the friends who you get along with and don't mind hanging out with but you probably wouldn't just call them up to hang out one-on-one. You only hang out when you all get together with the friend you met them through.

There are acquaintance's. People you know from other friends or family. You know, your cousin's boyfriend or your sisters best friend. People you have talked to once or twice but you wouldn't really call them a "friend".

Then you have the people you went to school with, worked with, and people who go to your same church. These people could be called friends but if people ask, you usually refer to them as "a girl I work with/went to school with/go to church with".

There are old friends. The ones you grew up with and even though you have both changed so much you can't stand each other you can't help but remember the good times so you keep in touch.

There are online friends, who you met in a chat room or randomly added you on Facebook or Myspace. People you have never actually met in person but seem pretty cool online.

There is family. People that are actually related to you so you would call them your cousin/sister/brother/etc. but they are still cool enough to hang out with, or you want to keep in touch so you keep them on your Facebook.

There are the "ex's" who you are either friends with either because you really are (not likely truthful) or you just get along and don't mind remaining in contact with...or you just want to keep tabs on them.

There are the "you're not really my friend or any of the above mentioned but I'm a nice person so I'll pretend I like you". Which is pretty self-explanatory.

There are people you used to be friends with but then something happened like a stupid fight or someone "dissed" the other one so you're mad at each other but both too stubborn to admit you're fighting or one of you was in the wrong. So you remain enough in contact with them (whether it be a phone number you just can't delete from your phone or a friend you can't delete off Facebook).

There are probably a lot of other sub-categories for friends but I think I've covered the basics. So next time someone calls you friend or you say someone is your friend...do they really mean it? What do they really mean?