Friends come and go like the seasons. I believe that some friends come into your life for a short time with the sole purpose of teaching you a lesson about yourself. Others stay for several seasons of your life and provide continuous support along the way. If you're lucky, and I mean really, really lucky, you'll end up with a batch of friends like mine. I couldn't ask for a better support system. My small group of friends, although some live far away, are my fellow goofballs, my tear-driers, the force that pulls me back down to Earth when I get carried away. Out of all the inside jokes and gossip that I could tell them, what needs to be said most, is thank you. Thanks for putting up with my antics and mood swings. Thanks for being there for me even when I let you down. Thanks for all the good times we've had and all the memories that we've yet to make.

For ushering me through all the stupid stuff I've gotten myself into over the years– thank you. Honestly, where would I be without my friends there to tell me that I'm being a complete moron? You guys pull me out of my own cloudy ideas and slap me with reality. I need that, far too often. What I'm trying to say is thanks for not giving up on me even when I get to be too much to handle.

Thanks for letting me complain constantly about trivial things that won't matter in a week– you guys are my sounding board. Sometimes the best way to work things out is to harp about them until the matter shrinks and becomes less of a big deal. I do this every single day without fail, and you guys are always there to listen to me babble. I'm sorry for when I drown out you guys' problems, I only do that because I'm kind of a self-centered dirt bag. But you all still love me, I hope.

Thanks for making me laugh even when I'm feeling down. Laughter is all I've ever wanted, and that's what I have when I'm with you guys. Nothing heals a broken spirit like laughing so hard that your stomach hurts and tears roll down your cheeks. We've made enough hilarious memories to last a lifetime, but I'm greedy and want to make even more. Nothing makes me feel better like laughing with my best friends.

To everyone out there with friends like mine, hold them close. Friends like these are few and far between. Because life goes on and people change, they may not be your best friends forever. Value the time spent with your close friends because they're the ones who never gave up on you.