Last weekend, we were invited by our good friends (they’re husband and wife) to spend Saturday over at their house. They also told us to bring the kids so that they can play and get to see a new environment. While I would normally say no to such an invitation, we readily said yes because we knew them to be very cautious. They don’t go out unless necessary and they also practice safety protocols on the rare occasions that they are outside.

Aside from that, Mommy Khris and I were also wanting to take a break from our usual routine so we reckon it was a welcome opportunity. But above anything else, we just wanted to see our friends. Those two are some of the most genuine people that we know. They are part of the small circle that we are comfortable talking to, even confiding some of our fears, frustrations, and the petty things that bother us.

They are good conversationalists and we do enjoy sharing stories with them. We don’t ever feel bored when we are with them. In fact, we even forgot to take photos because we never had the urge to take out our mobile phones.

It was a great day spent eating, talking about the things that happened during the last two years that we didn’t see each other, talking about how our kids are growing too fast, and even exchanging some of our experiences as parents. We shared our plans in the next few years, our struggles with work, as well as a host of mundane topics.

As for our kids, they were busy playing with our friends’ daughter the whole time. They had toys with them, they ate cookies and popcorn, and they made a whole mess of the house.

It was already getting dark when we decided to go home. The children were still enjoying it but we knew they were already tired and would be hungry and cranky anytime soon. We said our goodbyes but that goes without saying that plans for succeeding visits have been made.

Finding good friends is a rarity these days. The type of friends that you’d want to spend a day with and not be afraid of being judged or treated unfairly.

I mean, friendship these days has been reduced to social media and online interactions. And it goes all the way back to pre-pandemic days. People’s attention spans have become shorter and I can observe that the quality of get-togethers have been reduced to faking smiles for the cameras and the like. I’m not saying that it’s all like that but it’s all too common as I have experienced with different sets of friends.

Genuine friends are gems. They are for keeps. They are your safe place because you can bare your heart out to them and they will still treat you with realness. They are also not afraid to be blunt, if the situation calls for it.

I hope people still value true friendship. If there are people in your lives whom you consider to be your good friends, do spend time with them every once in a while. Or at least ask them how they are.

One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught me is that life is too fragile. Age is not even a factor anymore because people, young or old, can be gone in an instant as we’ve all seen in the last two years.

I know quite a few people who are much younger than me who succumbed to COVID-19. I lost a childhood friend and a respected high school teacher last year, both to leukemia.

So, spend your time wisely with the right people and show your appreciation to them without any hesitation.

Do you have people in your lives whom you consider as your good friends? How do you make them feel that you care even if you don’t see each other face to face? Feel free to share them in the comment section.

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For the last three editions of Grateful Dad, please read the following:

• Grateful Dad #10: Valentine’s Day 2022
• Grateful Dad #9: Unlimited Playtime
• Grateful Dad #8: Back To School

To read the whole series, please click here.