Answer the Phone

We have all heard it before from a friend, family member, boyfriend or girlfriend- "I will always be here for you, no matter what.  Call me at 4am and I will answer.  You can count on me."  Save it for a soap opera because none of you mean it. 

When they call you at 4am and you are so comfortable in bed wrapped up in your covers, the last thing you want to do is pick up and listen to them cry, bitch, or ask to come over and talk.  You were "so tired, completely knocked out, and didn't even hear your phone."  You have all done it, you are all guilty, and I am myself.  What really defines a good friend today?

I consider myself the best friend you will ever have or the worst enemy you could ever have; I leave the choice up to you.  Don't take advantage of somebody's kindness or willingness to help you out and they will continue to come back.  It's a give and take thing.  I'm not so sure why this is hard for everyone to understand because we learn in kindergarten how to share.  You can use my red crayon if you let me use your blue one- when things were so simple.

I know who I can trust with information, who I can call when I have hit rock bottom, and who always has my best interest at heart.  There is one person who will never let you down and can always control your happiness.  It's yourself.  Don't ever let your happiness, safety, dreams or life rest in someone else's hands.

When somebody looks me in the eyes and tells me "from the bottom of my heart, I truly care about you and I will be there for you beyond everybody else," I take the risk of believing them and giving a little bit of myself or I fake a smile, say thank you, and know that I could never call them.  Most of us swing one way or the other most of the time and then that one instance that you step out of your comfort zone to try the other strategy, you find yourself fooled.  Then we all shake our heads and say I never should have taken the chance, I never should have trusted them, I'm going back to how I always am. 

The best part that always makes me laugh is when they come to you on a day when it's pouring rain and they have a flat tire on the side of 95- suck it.  

If you're going to be there for somebody, and I mean truly be there- than when they call at 4am and you just want to ignore the ringing on your cell phone to continue your slumber; answer.