"But You Got to Have Friends"

The title is sung by Bette Middler. I was listening to it this morning. I invited her to my day-long celebration when I became an American Citizen in 2002**. She didn't respond. I guess we are not friends, even though I like here music.

It brought to mind several discussions about friendships -- what it is; who is and isn't; and what for. I still not sure what all these graphs tell me. Anyone can be Scoble's friend, others are more discerning. I'm not going to link in this blog post. Instead, I'll just make some observations.






1. I count on friends period

2. I expect friends to give me the good bad and the ugly (sort of like the CEO or smart manager who surrounds him/her self with the best people he/she can find and then counts on them for honest perspectives).

3. Facebook and blogging has "enabled" me to meet people I otherwise might not have.

4. Where there has been effort openness and reason on both sides, we are becoming friends -- getting to know each other in all kinds of ways. Its great.

5. Then there are some I have reached out to and we have not been able to connect... no effort from the other party, so no friendship has emerged.

6. The Internet has also allowed me to be better at keeping in touch with friends, although who could not do a better job of being in touch with people miles away

7. In some instances, the reaching out and getting to know some has resulted in friendships many would not have predicted. Like I said in #2 learning about the good bad and the ugly from an honest perspective and openness to sharing can sometimes turn around unexpected relationships.


** As an aside, when I became a naturalized American Citizen, they told me the paper document was like a new birth certificate. So if you think the day long celebration I held then was "too funny" just wait for the "sweet sixteen"...11 years away, my friends.