Friends

"If you don't go to somebody's funeral, they won't go to yours." -- Yogi Berra

"There is a world of difference between being friendly to someone because they're useful to you and being someone's friend." -- Anonymous

I've been victimized by so called friends who used me for their benefit.
I won't go into details to protect the guilty.
I don't hold grudges.
But it still pains me when I have people take advantage of my kindness.
I eulogized a friend who had sometimes used my friendship to aid him in his survival.
But I had a God moment and eloquently saluted him for his good deeds and great personality.
The audience applauded.
So, with trepidation sometimes we're hesitant to embrace friends.
We selectively help others.
It's painful to be taken advantage of.
Once bitten, twice shy.
I've had a world of friends help me in my vicissitudes of struggling with houselessness.
Without them I don't know where I'd be today.
Here's to friendship!!