Friends

I have a video camera that has seen recorded a few adventures with me and my friends. One particular video that has gotten a lot of publicity is the "camping video". My friends Matt, Tom, Jill and I took a little excursion to Aspen a few summers ago and the video camera provided much entertainment.
Well, a few weeks ago Laurie and Jill were over at my apartment and somehow the "camping video" came up in conversation. So of course, we HAVE to watch it AGAIN. Laurie never had the privilege of seeing this visual delight, so Jill and I amused her (but mostly ourselves).

There is nothing scandalous about the video. Clothing is worn at all times and there are no drunken charades that will continue to haunt any of us. Mainly, it's us acting like idiots...telling stupid campfire jokes, the occasional story and plenty of wise cracks and dirty looks between us. There is even a long segment of Tom sneaking into Jill's tent to capture just how loud she snores! It may not sound (or look) the least bit funny to those who weren't there, but every time the four of us see it, it's the most hilarious thing.

So after Laurie, Jill and I finished with the camping video, I popped in a few miscellaneous videos that were in the video bag. I was amazed to find out that I still had videos of my first trip to Colorado with Andy (Aug. 2001), our first Thanksgiving out here that we spent with friends whom I no longer have contact with and a birthday video that I made for Andy with all his friends and family from Wisconsin giving him their best wishes.
Seeing these tapes sparked random memories and feelings that I had completely forgot about. Jill turned to me and said "Isn't it weird to think that those people played an important role in your life at that time, and now you don't even know where they are?"
This question has constantly been on my mind for the last month. My initial response to her was "Yes", and then the wheels in my head started to turn.

Jill's question has made me think of the friendships and relationships I've had over the last 4 years (since I've moved to Colorado). Since I have no family that I spend any quality time with out here (a great uncle and some older cousins whom I'm not close to), my friends have been my family. So why is it that certain people who had meant so much to me 3 years ago, aren't active in my life now?

We have friends that fulfill certain needs at specific moments in our life. "Friends are the family you make", so there's no absolute commitment to them. Some people come into our life to teach us something, and I believe that once we are done learning from them, we move on and someone new enters our world.

I am saddened at times thinking about the people in my life whom I considered to be a huge influence on me at some point in my life and realizing that we will (most likely) never speak again. But even through all the bad times, I still emerge learning a valuable lesson from them. After a while, I tend to forget about the bad times and only remember the good, because that's what friendship is all about--having some laughs, sharing some great stories and making memories, regardless of how long you remain friends.