True friends to the end?

The amount of times I've heard growing up, people say only time will tell who your true friends are - and I'm starting to realise how very true that saying is.

It's natural for people when they grow up they tend to spread out, start a family or choose a quieter pace of life, but you always think that there'll be certain amigos that will make the extra effort to stay in contact and have regular catch ups with. Even though I do still make an effort with all my friends, I'm getting to the stage now where I can't help but feel that with certain people I am doing this all in vain.

Only this weekend I was having a heart to heart down the local talking about someone who I thought would always be there to share life with, someone I grew up with, who has now made it very clear I don't fit in their life anymore owing to the fact that I have to be kept separate from all her 'couple' friends as I may not be able to 'cope' with it. Whilst I was sitting there in the pub, I realised I was crying into the shoulder of someone who has actually turned out to be one of my best friends and I never would have thought it in a million years. Someone who I had known when in college and then drifted apart from - only to drift back in contact with again a couple of years ago and he's proved that he is growing into a rather solid rock.

Life has it's ups and downs and I believe in taking every day as it comes, but every now and again it's always nice to see a shining star that brings a twinkle to your eye and brightens your day into a genuine smile that reaches the eyes.

Nostalgic Memories

When did life become so dull and boring? What happened to the days when you would jump out of bed and wolf down your breakfast because you was too impatient and felt like you was missing out on something in the big wide yonder? Where has that added 'zing' gone, the one that would be there whilst you're running down the street in your flashing LA trainers full of joy and wonder?

Fast forward 20 years and this is where it has gone to - a 9 to 5 desk job, mortgages and bills galore and the feeling that life really isn't all that you thought it would crack up to be! Nice one!

I've been trying to pin-point the exact time when I realised my ambitious 'I can conquer the world' phrase ended and my 'oh-my-god-I'm-getting-old' phase kicked in it's place. I'm guessing about 3pm on September 23, 2009. No, kidding!

But on a serious note, why is it you spend your whole youth wishing you could just grow up and be taken more seriously, yet spend your adult life living down memory lane, wishing you could get some of that vitality back?

I even went through a phrase last year of going out and getting drunk just for the sheer hell of it, to do something fun and stupid and irresponsible. But all that made me realise is that the older I get, the worse the hangover gets, which made me feel even more old and depressed than when I had just stayed sober to begin with!

What can I say? I guess I'll just have to think up some other hair-brained scheme to 'mix-it up abit' and inject some fun into my life. To do that, I think I am going to need my nice comfy couch, a cup of tea, dressing gown and my slippers to properly relax and get the ideas flowing.....