We all know "fair-weather" friends are no good. These are the peoplewho walk with us in the sunshine, but they are gone when darknessfalls. Overly engaged and emotionally needy friends who don't know themeaning of reciprocity are "downers". They take and take while we giveand give, but we never see a return on our investment. On the other endis "know-it-all friend" who mothers and smothers with unwanted advicebut never asks for our input. In short, friends cannot be your family,they can't be your project, they can't be your psychiatrist. But theycan be your friends, which is plenty.
Real friends are few.  The few real friends we enjoy generallycome in one of two forms, both desirable and equally delightful. Theyare friends of the Road and friends of the Heart.