Real Friends

Well, this must be my latest post to date ... and it's one of those non poetic, rambling posts that are needed to clear the mind and take the weight off. 
Tonight has been something of a rollercoaster. I won't bore you with the details as they are long winded and extremely 'ranting' but tonight has shown me who I can truly count on as friends. 
Everyone has the same types of friends. They may see it, they may not, they may realise but choose to ignore it like I do because they think in their mind 'They're not so bad, once you dig deeper than the exterior' but then something happens, something along the lines of the night I have just had where everything just ... clicks into place. 
Friend types ... Yes. Well everyone has the 'Best Friend'. They call this person a 'Best Friend' because this person is there for them. This friend will be there to talk, even if you are miles away from them, and they will always find a way to talk. They will use bbm, text, facebook, phone...anything. Sometimes it will seem like they haven't bothered but then you realise that these minor moments are the result of something big in their lives that you can't fault them on (unless you are heartless). These friends are the type of person that you can not speak to for days on end, sometimes weeks, sometimes months and yet when you meet up with them, it's like nothing ever changed. Everything just turns back around to the moment before you stopped talking. You may have arguments but things will ALWAYS work itself out with you and your 'Best Friend'. The best part of this friendship is that the words 'Best Friend' don't constantly come up in everyday life, like the other types I will soon show. This is because they don't always have to assure themselves and you that you're close, they know it and they respect it. The friends who constantly remind you of your friendship are the ones who are insecure, who don't know the meaning of friendship and/or are showing it off to the rest of the world, just because they can. 
Then there's the 'So-Called Best Friend'. This friend ticks most of the boxes that I just mentioned above, however with one small difference. This friend isn't there when you need them. They may seem like they are, they may tell you that they are, but when push comes to shove, they will not be there. They are not 'just a call away' because when you do call them they will be doing something else. Don't get me wrong, I ... like many other people ... do not expect my friends to drop everything they are doing for me, but courtesy and care is something that should be shown to a friend. This friend does not know the meaning of these words, even though throughout your friendship you think they do. The 'So-Called Best Friend' will not drop everything for your phone call, but they sure as hell expect you to drop it for them. Things are not reciprocal with them and a lot of the time they don't know what reciprocal means. You have to be on guard with these ones, they will use the best friend card time and time again ... just to get what they want. 
Another friend type is the 'Me, Myself and I Friend'. Like the 'So-Called Best Friend' things are not reciprocal with this one. Things are all about themselves. They are your friend because they are a laugh, they're there when you need a buddy to go swimming with, or running, or an art class, but the hobbies you two share are only because they want to do them. Things are always on their terms. A big factor in this friend is the conversation you have with them. Unlike the 'Best Friend' these friends love to keep the conversation on them. Don't even think about getting an honest opinion from them about a problem, or a question because they will say whatever they can just to bring the attention back on them. These friends are usually the most insecure of them all and they more than likely didn't get any attention from their home life, therefore they feel like they must get it from the people they work with, or go to school with. There are many friends like this. It's almost hard to get away from them, really so you just have to be careful. Don't expect too much out of them because they won't deliver, even if they promise they will. 
The most superficial friend of all is the 'Plastic Friend'. This friend is pretty much as useful, opinion and conversation wise, as a plastic doll. They will lie to you just for your friendship. It sounds flattering, but it's just demeaning. They don't see you as someone who is equal, or better. They see you as someone who doesn't deserve the truth. If you ask whether the dress looks good in black or bright orange, they will tell you it looks amazing in orange, just because they want to look better. They are the jealous type and their conversation consists of fashion, boys and the tedious work they're forced to overcome, either in school or the workplace. Never ask anything intellectual of these friends because you will get as response similar to the response of a plastic doll ... These are the friends to drop, the ones you don't need ... because, really, who needs any more lies in their life? 
There are also 'Statement Friends'. These are the fun ones. You're not as close as you are to some of the others but these friends know how to make you feel good on a rainy day. They will take you out, they will force you into a make over because they know it's the best thing for you, or they will book that all needed holiday for you, just because they care. Don't expect the deep, hard hitting, problematic advice that you might be wanting from them, because they don't know how to deal with that, but they know how to make you smile, just by pampering you. These are the friends that have the best fashion, make up and guy tips, the ones with the most experience ;) and they ones that are more likely to tell you 'there are plenty more, better looking fish in the sea'. 
You can also get the 'Chillaxing Friend'. This is the one you go to if you don't want to party. This is the one who has the sensible head on her shoulders. She knows what to say, and she gives the advice you want to keep in your head for future reference. Her conversation goes deeper than foundation, and she has an endless collection of books, DVD's and music for you to read, or watch, or listen to while you talk. Her best solution to traumatic problems is a cup of hot chocolate and a large bag of Chocolate Buttons. This friend is cute. Her smile makes you feel so much better, especially when you have the worst luck in the world, seeing this friend makes things worth while even if it's just for a couple of hours. 
The last one I want to tell you about is the 'Mummy Friend'. Sometimes this friend is just that. A Mummy. Sometimes, she's your own Mummy, sometimes she's a friend's Mummy, or just a Mummy in general. And sometimes she's someone who will turn out to be a brilliant Mummy when the time is right. She's the one who gives amazing hugs. She doesn't talk much, but she listens. She's the shoulder to cry on when you need it, she's the one who has the tissues and the aspirin when you've have a messy break up, or a huge argument and she'll make sure, if you need her, she will call when she can, just to make sure that you're okay. She's the kind of friend who wants to know that you got back home safe from the party, even if you're in a taxi with three other people. She cares. Of course sometimes this can be a guy as well so then he's the 'Daddy Friend' and his hugs are extra special because a guys hugs are pretty damn wonderful. 
Well, there are many more of friend types, and I might just enlighten you guys later on in my blog, however for now I will leave you with them. Tonight I found my 'Best Friend', my 'Me, Myself and I Friend', and my 'Plastic Friend'. The amazing thing is a lot of the time, these friend types can be melded into one person. It's not all straight forward with friends, and it takes a long night, and a lot of gin sometimes to let you realise that on your own. 
Just be careful with your friends. When you've found the good ones, keep them and make sure they know how much you love them ... trust me, it means a lot. :)