MY FRIENDS
by Eric Munter
Friends are an incredible gift. I could be without a material thing in my life, not a penny to my name, and I would still count myself rich beyond comprehension. That is because I KNOW I have the absolutely most amazing group of friends in the world. Sure, I sound like a proud new papa gushing over his baby saying, “I have the most amazing child in the world because of XYZ.” But I can say without reserve, hesitation or batting an eye that you would be extremely hard-pressed to be surrounded by as much love and friendship that I am.
There are countless instances over the years that have made an indelible mark on me from the experiences I’ve had with my friends. I will never forget the time I was running around on the playground pretending we were flying, the multiple, thousand-mile road trips, the time two of my friends baked me cookies after my car accident and spontaneously brought them to my house, each time I told each of my friends I’m gay and received their loving support, the times I was asked to be a best man – all these things and hundreds of other memories mean the world to me.
This post is not to gloat, but serves as a reminder for me. From time to time, I take my friends for granted. I assume they will always be there when I don’t hang out with them for long periods of time or when I don’t call, text or email them. And they might possibly always be there when I go through these dry spells – but I should never treat them this way. They deserve better because they provide me with unconditional love and support in all that I do. And for that, I am and will always be eternally grateful.
JUL