What happened to frienship?

To me, friendship is an honor and a gift and a privilege. There are millions upon billions of people in this world and you come across quite a few of them on a daily basis, so to choose a few select "friends" out of those people is pretty fantastic. That being said, why do we take advantage of each other and even more so of our "friends"???? Why do we take these special people for granted so easily!!!

I use the term "friend" with the quoty fingers because I don't think you automatically get the title just by hanging out with someone and having a few beers every other weekend or so. A true friend would be there for you no matter what happens, and I do mean no matter what...all inclusive...jail time, breakups, new boyfriend, new house, a boring Tuesday. A true friend would give you the honest, unfiltered advice that you may hate to hear but know is true. A true friend would not only remember your birthday (and I mean calling at midnight and starting the plans to celebrate months before) but that friend would also remember your anniversary, your dog's birthday, and maybe even the first day you started your job! A true friend would tell you when you look absolutely gorgeous and when those pants really do make your butt look big! A true friend would never even consider for a moment talking about you behind your back....he/she wouldn't need to because you talk about your issues upfront instead of to other "friends" (notice the quoty fingers). And a true friend is like a sister but more, because you chose this person and you each know that and you don't forget how lucky you are!

I have quite a few "friends" in my life. I get text messages on my birthday and the standard group text on the other holidays through the year...but I never seem to hear from them on my anniversary. I am positive that none of them know how old my dogs are, much less their birthdays, and I am pretty sure that the majority of them don't even know where I work or what I do. None of this would be an issue at all, I would just accept them as "friends" and not expect anything more, but the bad/sad thing is that some of them are under the impression that they are friends - without the quoty fingers. I thought the same thing of them...until they proved me wrong. Figuring out that a friend is actually a "friend" is a tough pill to swallow to say the least. I think it's worse than losing a significant other because even when you're in a good relationship, there's still a very, very tiny part of you that knows there's a possibility of it ending. With a friendship, you don't expect that. The part of your heart that rarely hurts or gets broken is the one that goes and that's a killer, at least for me. I cannot even begin to express through words how it has felt for me. To be totally taken for granted and almost used by someone you thought was a friend. To feel like you don't matter to someone who is important to you is a devastating blow. To feel replaced and cast aside is something beyond words. To think you can trust someone and then find out you can't is mindblowing. And the worst part is feeling like a total fool for being that friend to your now "friend". For knowing that you did those things for that person that take the quoty fingers away and not getting that back. You're left feeling stupid and lonely and for me, wondering "what's the point in even trying?!"

So I guess the point is, will I ever be able to have that friend??? Is it something that I need to just accept that I will not be privileged to in my life? Are my standards too high? I have had quite a few what I thought to be friends that are now "friends" or not around at all anymore. I honestly cannot keep making friends that turn into "friends"! Maybe I should start taking applications and doing interviews before that first shopping trip or drink after work? Maybe check references? So for those of you that actually read this, just take it to heart and try to be a FRIEND...no quoty fingers allowed!!!