Old Friends...

So I've been wondering lately how long a friendship lasts. How does one know when a friendship has outlived its use or meaning? I've never been the type of person to have many friends, even as a kid. Usually the friends I have are true and few (yes... it's a pathetic rhyme). I remember a time when I could count my friends on the fingers of one hand. Now it fluctuates, and on even the best day I wouldn't need both hands!

I know people who think *everyone* is a friend. That's always annoyed me. My "old friend" from high school is one of those people. She's got a billion friends. Of course, it doesn't help that she remembers every face she's ever seen. I, on the other hand, can barely remember my OWN face! At any rate, her seemingly huge collection of friends vs. my lovely little collection makes me wonder: What exactly IS a friend?

Is a friend someone who calls me and talks for 30 minutes about only herself, pausing just long enough for me to squeeze in "uh huh" or "right," and no longer? Is a friend someone who really doesn't listen to a word I say? Actually, maybe she just picks out the "important" words and lets the rest go directly out her OTHER ear. At any rate, I have to say that I don't see much friendship in this situation.

Friendship, to me, means a relationship--a give and take, an ebb and flow. If I'm always giving, and you're always taking, whose fault is it? It's like that ol' "fool me once" thing. If I keep giving without getting anything in return, then I'm none too bright. On the other hand, if "taking" is what the friend needs, does that make it okay? How 'bout 20+ years of the same ol'... ?

So how does one euthanize a long-suffering friendship? Is there a clinic I can visit to put this friendship out of my misery? Do I just say, "this friendship's not working for me anymore"? It feels a lot like a breakup with someone I don't hate. How do I make it mean enough to get the point across in a nice way while maintaining the minimal contact possible? Ha! Leave it to me to seek the easy way out. I know! I'll just move and change my phone number!