F is for F•R•I•E•N•D•S (and friends)

F•R•I•E•N•D•S has always been one of my favorite television shows. I watched it pretty regularly when it first aired on TV, and I never seem to tire of the reruns.

I think what makes F•R•I•E•N•D•S such an enduring program is the closeness between the characters and how well they know and understand each other. These aren't superficial relationships between fair-weather friends; these characters know that they can depend on each other, no matter the circumstances. They offer support and acceptance, they're trustworthy and honest, and they stick with each other in good times and bad.

Isn't this just the type of friendship we desire in our own lives? Do you have a Monica or a Chandler in your life? How about a Rachel or a Ross? A quirky Phoebe? A cute but slightly dim-witted Joey?

I've never been the kind of person to have large groups of friends, but throughout my life I have had a handful of what people usually call best friends, those who not only exhibit all the qualities I described above but share my interests as well. They're the type of people that never quit the friendship, even if circumstances--having to move away, for example--make the relationship more difficult to maintain.

I'm still in contact with my best friend from high school, even though I've moved one thousand miles away from her. We keep in touch as often as we can via phone calls, emails, and Facebook, and when we see each other each summer, it feels like we've never been apart. We look forward to the visits, but we also know that even when we're apart, we can still depend on each other for support.

Since I moved here to New York, I've made another close friend, a fellow 30-something mommy. Perhaps more than any other situation in my life, becoming a mother has made me realize just how important friends are and how much we really need people who understand where we're coming from because they're right there in the trenches with us. They can help us through bad days filled with fighting kids, unhelpful spouses, and perpetual messes, and they can share our glee over our child's potty training and bike riding triumphs.

We need friends. (And F•R•I•E•N•D•S, too, if you're like me.)

What about you? Tell me about your friends and the importance of friendship in your life.