What is a friend?

Interesting question, is it not? What would your definition of a friend be? I don't know about you, but I have had very few friends in my life. I mean real friends. . . . .let's see. . . . I am 54 now, and I would say in my lifetime I have had fewer than 10 real friends. Is that normal? I used to easily trust others, and as I age I am learning through the school of hard knocks that it is not a wise thing to do. I am more careful now. I have learned that the most important thing in this world for me is to be true to myself, and sometimes this requires me to be a solo act. I am far from perfect and am just starting to learn who I am. I will continue this learning process until I stop breathing