This is in response to Whitkay Emmons' freaking out session about friends. It would make a whole lot more sense to you if you read what she wrote first. And now that you've dutifully read Whitney's lovely philosophical meanderings, here are my views on the matter. it's an edited version of my email to whit.

Darlin, this is when I tell you to chill. :o) Of *course* I will *always and forever* be one those crazy chicas who knows you better than you know yourself. Just wait -- one day, when I'm forty, I'll call you, crying my eyes out, and say "Whitney!! My husband is CHEATING on me! Sit with me through the divorce and then WE can get married!!" :o) okay? Promise me that when my husband starts cheating on me, you'll help me divorce him so we can get married? (Waits patiently for Whitney's response, and then realizes she's typing an email. Considers what Whitney would say, and then does a happy little jig in celebration) YAY!! Oooh thank-you-thank-you! WOOHOO!! Okay okay, Calming down. Oh! As long as you promise not to marry the bastard in the meantime okay? Or no, go ahead and marry the bastard, and you can divorce him later. OR you can marry him, and then when IIII divorce my lame-ass husband, we can have some kinky three-way marriage.... Okay getting a leeetle to sick for me. Shutting up now. :o)
Anyway. There WAS some big philosophical point to this. What was that? ::thinks for a solid minute:: OH YEAH!! It was that, if everyone leaves you, what's the point in making friends anyway? And you know what my answer is to that? a) The only way I'll ever leave you is if I die some horrible pre-mature death -- a non-gonna-happen. and b) Isn't it worth it while it lasts? Aren't the times we spend together valuable in themselves? Something to hold and say "I am loved."
The other implication is that friends must not be the point to life. They are not eternal, therefore they are not the only thing that matters. What is eternal in your life? Yourself. You are the only constant in your life. Therefore, the goal of my life is to become the best Hari Pocahontas Khan possible. (see entry two) My have two functions in my life: most obviously, so we can enjoy the journey together, but primarily to teach us how we can be ourselves, which is far more perfect than the self we show to the world. Friends are out support groups. Because they love you and accept you for who you are, you gain the confidence to be yourself. You can be the best "you;" you can be smart and sweet and perfect. I help you and you help me, so that, hopefully, on that day when I'm forty and my husband is leaving me for some lame-ass 20 year secretary (who's body will never be as perfect as MINE will be when I am 20, when I pick up the phone ask you to marry me, you will say, "Look at that potential - she's damn near perfect! Of course!"
That, my darlin, is our goal. We will be awesome! The only way we can accomplish that is with friends who come and go, who seem to think a stupid picnic with a stupid boy is more important than a month of separation, who live right next door and practically on top of you, whom you hardly ever see but love anyway across thousands of miles, whom you only talked to once at a school dance but thought was cool while it lasted, whom you've lived with all your life…. EVERYONE counts, because they all make an impression of you. "You," of course, being the key word. They might leave you, but you had FUN -- always a plus -- and learned something from each of them, That is why friends are important. They teach you *something* either by their example or their folly, or by struggling through the lesson with you.
I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER!! MMMMMMMWAH hari