Forthnights

Blood is thicker than water

5 years ago, as i was sitting down with my father and a close friend of mine, my father commented to the both of us "I wonder how far your friendship will go. I have completely lost touch with the peopple i knew in my schooling years. I cant even remember some of them." At the time, i didnt think much of it. I felt that i had a very close friendship with this particular friend and that there should be no problems continuing to be so even after 20 years

Today, i havent seen of spoken to that friend for 3 years. What happened? Nothing, just drifted apart. In fact, i only keep in touch occasionally with a small handful of friends. The ironny is that i dont keep in touch with those who were close to me but instead with those who were not too close during those times.

When i was a kid, my mother used to tell me not to put too much importance on friends and concentrate more on family. I strongly disagreed, saying that friends were an important part of like either. Her reply was "Friends come and go, but family is for life. Blood is thicker than water. " I didnt think much of it and all these many years considered myself to have an equal balance between friends and family. But a comment from a friend challenged that. That close friend of mine (currently) said that i was a very family centred person.

That was unexpected especially from a close friend, but it made me wonder about it. Am i really more family centred? OF course, with a family like mine, you cant really just ignore it and pretend youre live everyone else can you?

Today, looking around me those friends from 5 years ago are living their own lives, and true enough my family remains. Looks like my mom was right. Judging from what i have been up to for this past year, i do have to say i am family centred. Most of my activites are planned around me semester schedule, around my girlfriend and my mothers appointments. Friends fit in after that, wherever there is empty slots. An indication would be recently when a friend of mine came to my house. He seemed a little out of place, and i asked him whats the matter. Why was he acting like he's never come here. ANd he said it was indeed his first time here. 3 years of being friends and the person comes to my house for the first time. In fact, i rarely bring people to my house, reserving invitation to friends closer to me.

So yes, i am family centred. My friends from yesteryear arent around anymore except a few. On one hand, i feel assured that whatever happens, at least my family is constant as an anchor in my life. On the other hand, i feel almost overwhelmed by the fact the whatever friendships i have now will become mere momory anyway. what the point of investing time, sweat and heart in something that most likely wont last? Its like a rock in the river. The flow of water like friends come and surround you and keep you company only to leave you and in his place, others come.

posted by Compulsive Blogger @ 10:12 am Comments: 1