friends

Lately I've been wondering what a friend really is. I've heard so often "You need friends! You can't stand on your own! So-and-so is your friend!" And all of these I've found myself disagreeing with lately.
When I was little a friend was someone who would play with me. We weren't friends every day, there were times when we would treat each other horrible and then the next day we were friends again.
When I was an adolescent a friend was someone I had to be with all the time. We had to talk on the phone all the time, go to each others homes at least once a week, complain to each other, make trouble with each other. Friends were inseparable and we would influence each other for the worst or for the best.
Coming into young adulthood friendship was still something like that, a friend was someone you could share all your deepest hurts and secrets with, someone you knew wouldn't tell. It was someone who would listen and give you advise, someone who's advise you would follow because of an established trust. Friends still saw each other fairly often and talked to each other as much as their schedules allowed.
Now that I'm back in MI I'm realizing that either the definition of friendship has changed once more, or I simply have no friends. And as I look about my life I'm amazed to find that I'm not heartbroken at that prospect.
I know it sounds cold and heartless, perhaps a little bitter, but I assure you that there is no bitterness in my heart as I contemplate these things. I look at my parents, especially my father and I realize that he has no friends, none at all. He may have co-workers that he gets along with well, and he may have a few people that he talks to regularly, but he doesn't go out to coffee with his buddies, he doesn't spend an hour on the phone talking with his BF. I'm wondering if that is the point I'm coming to.
I believe the definition of friendship is shifting in my heart and in my mind, and when a girl who considers herself my friend urges me to go to a club with her, I have no qualms about saying no, because I don't need to go do something with people in order to have significant relationships. I think now that a friend is simply someone I know will be there if I ever need them.

Take me there

Take me to the place where there are no bad dreams. Take me to the land where there is no such thing as fear. The place where I can run forever and never get tired. Take me where it's fun to study. Take me where even when it's snowing it's still warm. Take me to where I can eat whatever I want and never gain a pound. Take me to a place where nothing costs money and everyone smiles, where they don't need to say "have a nice day" because there's no such thing as a bad day. Take me to a land where I can be with you all day and never be interrupted by having to go to bed or to go to work. Show me what it's like to live in your mind, in your peaceful paradise, free from worries and strife, take me to that place where adventures are plentiful and always fun and never frightening. Take me to where I can always be certain I'm loved and I'll be ok.